'The Tree of Life': Reactions from Cannes

Brad Pit in 'The Tree of Life'

Finally, after being shot nearly years ago and two years of tinkering with editing (with multile editors) Terrence Malick long-awaited The Tree of Life has landed at the Cannes Film Festival. Screening early Monday morning the film received on what was expected from its ecletic audience as The Hollywood Reporter put it best: "[Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life] was met Monday with scattered boos, an initial round of applause and then a growing chorus of appreciative reviews."

I wouldn't want it any other way. Why? Well, Malick is one of those directors that you don't fawn over like a kid at a 70s blockbuster from Steven Spielberg or savor the intricacies of camera style from Alfred Hitchcock or have a torrentially violent reaction to anything that comes from Lars von Trier. Malick has this style that illicits a very mixed but, strong reaction from viewers, asking them to ponder the metaphysical meaning of life. He does this by allowing his films to breathe life and present itself with a quiet demeanor.

'The Tree of Life' movie poster"Life, which Malick has been nurturing for years, defies easy categorization: At its center is the evocative tale of a family in Texas in the '50s: The disappointed, disciplinarian dad is played by Brad Pitt, while Jessica Chastain floats through the movie as the comforting and consoling mom. Sean Penn is seen, relatively briefly, in framing sections as one of their sons, grown up, troubled, and wandering through high rises in Houston.

And then there is also a magisterial detour into a section that recreates the origins of the universe and the creation of planet earth, with a stop along the way for a fleeting glimpse of some dinosaurs.

...

While Cannes tradition demands the auteur-of-the-day show up at an official press conference, Malick opted out of making an appearance at the presser -- and although Malick is in Cannes, there were conflicting reports whether he would walk the red carpet when the film formally screens Monday evening.

In his place, Pitt, Chastain and producers Sarah Green, Bill Pohlad (whose River Road backed the film), Dede Gardner (Pitt’s producing partner) and Grant Hill (who oversaw visuals) stepped forward to explain the film -- or at least to fend off definitive explanations. (Penn, who is on his way to the festival, had not yet arrived in town.)

“Mr. Malick is very shy,” Green said by way of explaining the director’s absence. Pressed to explicate the meanings of the movie, Pohlad suggested, “One of the reasons that Terry maybe shies away from a forum like this [is that] he wants the work to stand on its own. He doesn’t want to say what it’s about.”

Pitt assured the inquisitors, though, that Malick isn’t some mysterious misanthrope.

“He’s quite jovial, he’s incredibly sweet, he’s laughing most of the day, he finds pleasure in the day,” Pitt explained."

That came as no surprise. The Tree of Life is written and directed by Terrence Malick and Fox Searchlight will be releasing the film on May 27 in the United States.

Here's the trailer to The Tree of Life:

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Comments

[ajkak]

whether he would walk the red carpet when the film formally screens Monday evening.

[alistore]

thank you for you share
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