The Tree Of Life 20/07/11

The Tree of Life follows middle aged man Jack (Sean Penn) looking back at his 1950's childhood in Texas. The narrative seems to centre around Jack's complicated relationship with his father (the incredible Brad Pitt), the loss of innocence in adolescence and the death of Jack's younger brother. This, therefore, sees adult Jack searching for answers regarding the meaning of life and questioning his wavering faith.

Through a lengthy series of images of the creation of earth, beautiful shots of natures wonders and, interestingly dinosaurs' existence and extinction bought to them by an asteroid striking earth, we see the contemplative thought processes Jack goes through about the inception and ultimately, the meaning, of life.

Although the fragmented narrative sometimes became confusing, I found it enjoyable because I was on the edge of my seat and thinking on my feet to keep up with the story.

Opening with the quotation "Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation...while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" from the Book of Job, this sets the tone for the contemplative and religious nature of the film.

In the opening scenes we see Jack's mother (Jessica Chastain) recieve a telegram and fall to the ground clearly heartbroken, this scene then cuts to his father recieving a phone call which leaves him distraught.

Although the film isn't all about the acting, Pitt is exquisite as Mr O'Brien, a father struggling to find the balance between showing discipline and affection. In every scene he portrays perfectly the emotion required for each scenario and as the audience, you feel his agony. Chastain plays the loving, childlike and playful mother to her three boys extremely convincingly. We see this most prominently when Mr O'Brien leaves the family for a while to attempt to promote and sell his inventions. She is left with the boys and her loving and lenient ways are exposed. Jack becomes rebellious and violent away from his father's strictly watchful eye.

If you are not in the mood to concentrate and you want to see a film that you can let wash over you, this is not the one. It takes concentration and patience to piece together how you interpret the non-linear narrative. This is one of the most thought provoking, visually beautiful and awe inspiring films I have seen in recent times. But if you are easily frustrated by fragmented chrolnology then do yourself a favour and don't watch!