The Tree of Life takes a journey into the mind of Jack (Penn) as he reflects back on his childhood relationship with his parents (Pitt and Chastain) and 2 younger brothers.
He is conflicted and still struggles to deal with the death of his younger brother at 19. Recalling memories from growing up in the 1950s, Jack’s story is juxtaposed with of the origins of time and the universe to stunning effect. Writer/director Terrence Malick uses this juxtaposition to parallel the vastness of space and time with Jack’s journey of reflection. Along the way Malick probes some of life’s deepest questions encompassing religion, spirituality and science.
After a brief introduction, Malick begins this cosmic journey starting in the only place he can, the dawn of time. Incredible imagery of the cosmos follows (for about 20 minutes), bringing us through the expansion of the universe and billions of years of evolution, including the much talked about dinosaur scene. The Tree of Life questions faith and religion, depicts evolution from tiny microbes and looks death square in the eye. Malick has made an existential film where everything happens and yet nothing happens. Allow yourself 139 minutes of absorbing reflection.
The fact that Malick was going to feature dinosaurs plagued the internet prior to the release of the film. Excitement and confusion followed, but it works, as does pretty much everything in The Tree of Life. If you go away from this film reflecting on what it was actually about, then it has done exactly what Malick intended.
In the words of Carl Sagan “Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality.”
By Trish Keenan.
The Tree of Life opens in cinemas nationwide on 08 July.
