MovieChat Forums > To the Wonder (2013) Discussion > An idea this film presents - on purpose,...

An idea this film presents - on purpose, yes/no? (spoilers)

posted 12 years ago by napierslogs
2 replies | jump to latest

Perhaps the most common sentiment expressed in the world about relationships is that "communication is key". It is widely accepted that communication is very important to a successful relationship.

Do you think Malick purposely made To the Wonder with no dialogue between Neil and Marina as another tool to show that their relationship would not work out?

At first I didn't think he was doing that on purpose (connecting their ill-fated relationship with the lack of dialogue), and I was extremely frustrated by the lack of dialogue and thinking if communication is key, then there's no way that this will be a successful relationship.
But on second thought, it's pretty hard to miss that, and it was most likely an obvious tool to help show the demise of the relationship.

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[–] Airman87 12 years ago

Do you think Malick purposely made To the Wonder with no dialogue between Neil and Marina as another tool to show that their relationship would not work out?

No, that's just Malick's style.

Before I saw the film, all the comments here kept saying the film barely had any dialogue and Malick needs to start hiring screen writers; but after watching the film, it seemed like there was more dialogue in To the Wonder as there was in Tree of Life (this may not be the case, I don't know the word count on each screenplay, but it felt that way to me at least).

Now, there very well could be a communication problem in the relationship. Certainly it could be argued and interpreted that way. However, I don't think there's an intentional correlation to Malick's style and the screenplay.

[–] jab670 12 years ago

I absolutely disagree with the below poster - Mountainbiker25.

Yes, it is Malick's style. But he uses it different for each film. He's always been interested in languages ability and inability to communicate. You don't have to look any further than The Thin Red Line or especially The New World. The only character in The Tree of Life who really speaks is Brad Pitt, and he only seems to speak lies, hyperbole and contradictions.

I would say this is very much at play in To the Wonder except I would change your wording from "lack of dialogue" to lack of communication. Because even through body language, they don't seem to communicate. Many scenes have Olga and Ben occupying different rooms.