By Sumaya Samarasinghe - The Sunday Leader
There is always an air of mystery that surrounds a film directed by Terrence Malick. He is after all, one of the least prolific directors of our time, think about it, five films in 38 years! A record.In addition to this, he shies away from publicity and no one really knows what Malick looks like today. He never even attended the 2011 Cannes Film Festival where his fifth film The Tree of Life won the Palme D’Or.
For those who are into clear cut, linear stories with conventional characters and actions, it would be best to avoid this film as it resembles more a philosophical essay about life and death through the eyes of the Universe as a whole and a Texan family whose members often question and converse with God directly. Whispered voice overs ask God “Where are you?” or “What am I doing here”, certainly not your usual and predictable dialogue in feature films recently produced.
Prior to becoming a filmmaker, Terrence Malick studies philosophy at Harvard University and after being a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, he eventually taught philosophy at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). So, it should come as no surprise that Malik takes us during nearly 15 beautiful minutes, thanks to director of photography Emmanuel Lubezki, through the formation of planet earth, the ice age, the dinosaurs (very sweet by the way), and back to Texas in the 1950’s, where Mr. and Mrs O’Brian a young couple living in Waco, are enjoying the joys of parenthood for the first time with baby Jack; two more little baby boys will follow.
But we have met the couple before, at the very beginning of the film when Mrs. O’Brian played by the beautiful Jessica Chastain whom they seem to have forgotten to make up despite time passing by, receives a telegram informing her about the death of her 19 year old son. She calls up her husband and tells him the sad news. From this initial scene, it is evident which parent was the disciplinarian and which one was the loving caregiver. Brad Pitt is outstanding in his rather unpleasant role of a father who loves his three sons but is trying to inculcate in them values which will help all be more successful than what he became in life. Though the O’Brian’s don’t look like they are in any financial dire straits, it is understood that the father works in a factory and has regrets of never having become a famous musician. He is also a wannabe inventor who travels around the world, attempting to sell his inventions. So he is a man with a few chips on his shoulder and unfulfilled dreams which make him a mix of aggression and love, all mixed into a messy bundle. While he is away, his authoritarian rule is lifted and light and happiness just seems to seep through the entire household. The mother becomes a playmate to her three boys who smile and behave just like kids of their age should be.The cinematography throughout the film is absolutely gorgeous and one can nearly smell and feel the love Terrence Malick has for nature. Impatient viewers, abstain. The Tree of Life takes its time, rivers will flow, planets will explode, and plants will grow, while often not a word of dialogue is pronounced for over ten minutes.You may hear faint murmurs and think that one of the characters is making a clear rational statement but no, be ready to hear sentences such as “ There is a way of nature and there is a way of grace” and then nothing for another ten minutes!The haunting music by Alexandre Desplat is not overshadowed by the likes of, Brahms and Berlioz and Couperin who make up the rest of the soundtrack.
Interpret as you wish, that is the beauty of The Tree of Life. This is the type of film, movie lovers will discuss right into the night, or people seated at a Parisian Café drinking shots of expresso will offer their version of the film. An endless task indeed because can life and its meaning ever be explained?
