Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life took five years to develop, finally today a trailer has been released and we realize why it takes Malick on average 10+ years to create a film because he simply is one of the most powerful artists of our time. His ability to reveal majesty in all things, to make us pause at the impossibility of our existence is why its worth the wait. The Tree of Life hits theaters on May 27th, 2011.
A Synopsis was released for The Tree of Life at the 2010 American Film Market:
“From the Desk of Terrence Malick….. We trace the evolution of an eleven-year-old boy in the Midwest, JACK, one of three brothers. At first all seems marvelous to the child. He sees as his mother does with the eyes of his soul. She represents the way of love and mercy, where the father tries to teach his son the world’s way of putting oneself first. Each parent contends for his allegiance, and Jack must reconcile their claims. The picture darkens as he has his first glimpses of sickness, suffering and death. The world, once a thing of glory, becomes a labyrinth.From this story is that of adult Jack, a lost soul in a modern world, seeking to discover amid the changing scenes of time that which does not change: the eternal scheme of which we are a part. When he sees all that has gone into our world’s preparation, each thing appears a miracle—precious, incomparable. Jack, with his new understanding, is able to forgive his father and take his first steps on the path of life.The story ends in hope, acknowledging the beauty and joy in all things, in the everyday and above all in the family—our first school—the only place that most of us learn the truth about the world and ourselves, or discover life’s single most important lesson, of unselfish love.”
