MovieChat Forums > The Tree of Life (2011) Discussion > What this film is all about, why it's ha...

What this film is all about, why it's hated, and why I love it...

posted 10 years ago by adr5500
30 replies | jump to latest

This will probably be a lengthy explanation, but here we go. There are three major reasons why this movie is amazing, and at the same time, why so many do not like it. These reasons are interconnected, so I'll probably repeat myself a lot.

1. The film is an impressionistic experience.

This is the most important. It seems like nobody understands this, then everybody gets angry because "what's with all the pretty pictures and no story" or "the characters were so underdeveloped and I didn't connect with any of them" or "this story is so bad and nonsensical." No, no, no. For those that don't know what "impressionistic" is, it means that the film tries to evoke unconscious emotions through its sights and sounds rather than through its story or characters. Most people go to a movie expecting a focus on the story, when in this case, the focus is on what you see, what you hear, and the impression that it leaves on you. Stop thinking about it, lie back, lower your defenses, and just let yourself experience it. You'll probably enjoy it much more.

2. The plot is not what this movie is about and therefore, not what you should be focusing on.

There is nothing to "get" in this film. This is not Inception. There are no hidden meanings or intellectual puzzles to solve. What's on the surface is everything the movie has to offer; some people just don't see it all because they're too busy trying to look past it. When people tell you that you don't "get it", they're not referring to some subtle and profound truth that us who like the film have somehow discovered. They just mean that you're watching the film wrong; you're looking for and expecting that which is irrelevant to this type of film. And therefore, you leave the movie unimpressed because what you were looking for was never even there in the first place. It's like going to a Disney movie expecting a horror film and then walking out halfway because it wasn't scary at all, and then going onto IMDB and rating it 1/10 because it didn't scare you.

3. This film ventures extremely far from traditional film making.

BUT IT IS STILL A FILM. It may be unorthodox and unlike other films, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. "Film" isn't some strict categorical term, it is a form of art. And all art forms have room for new ideas and new methods of creativity. Just look at how painting has changed over the years, or how drastically music has changed in just the past century. Impressionism isn't even a new concept, it's simply been uncommon in cinema because a narrative focus is a much more straightforward and accessible approach.

As for my opinion of the movie, I think it is a masterpiece and the best film ever made. The first time I saw it, I fell asleep thirty minutes in. When it was over, I was left underwhelmed. I thought there would be something more to it. But each time I watched it again, I found it more and more beautiful. I wasn't sure why, but I kept being drawn back to the film, and would watch specific moments again and again, unsure why or how it was making me feel how it was. And now, every shot takes my breath away, and I can understand and appreciate why. This really is a movie that you need to watch multiple times to fully appreciate.
Many point out how this movie is too pretentious, and it is pretentious if you watch it through a very cynical lens. But I've found that watching it with a more sincere attitude reveals how truly sincere the movie is as well. The emotions it evokes are as genuine as you allow them to be. As I said before, lower your defenses and you'll have a much better time. Some people can't stand the religious aspect of it. I'm an atheist, but I interpreted it more as a spiritual thing than a religious thing, and I'm much more comfortable with spirituality than I am with religion. And honestly, it's 1950s Texas, it would be weird if the characters weren't religious.
That's it for what I have to say about the Tree of Life. I've watched it countless times now, and will likely watch it countless times more.

[–] Orestes97 (100) 8 years ago

Nice analysis. I avoided this and most of Malick's filmography for awhile but decided to give it a shot one night. It was honestly one of the most beautiful viewing experiences in my life. I grew up with a similar upbringing as the family in the film, albeit 50 years later. My parents both had similar views as the O'Briens. It brought back memories of my childhood in the country. I'm not super religious but I also really connected to the spiritual content of the film. By the end I was in tears.

[–] jasonbourne (1027) 8 years ago

It is a complex and beautifully constructed film with its cinematography and music. I am amazed at the photos from this film. On first viewing, I thought Mr. O'Brien was an authoritarian in personality, but the way he expressed it, especially to young Jack, and Mrs. O'Brien was that of a bully. The way he treated them was if they did not conform to what he said, then he would resort to physical violence. It probably reflected the powerlessness that he had in his life at work and how he regretted the life decision he made. There are other Christian, specifically Catholic, messages from the Book of Job at play such as why bad things happen to good people. Mrs. O'Brien, who is more gentle and thoughtful expresses her views as, "[voice over] Help each other. Love everyone. Every leaf. Every ray of light. Forgive." "[voice over] The nuns taught us there were two ways through life - the way of nature and the way of grace. You have to choose which one you'll follow." I suppose once can view this movie the same way, either by nature or by the way of grace.