Terrance Malick’s new film, The Tree Of Life, is an existential exploration which follows a middle-aged man’s reflections on his upbringing and the death of his brother within a 1950’s American family. The film focuses on his intricate and often paradoxical childhood relationships with his mother, father and brothers, whilst ambitiously striving to link these byzantine familial relationships with natural causation. By interjecting the non-linear narrative with scenes of the creation of the world and other natural phenomenon, Malick attempts to convey man’s underlying nature and his role as a just another cog in the grand scheme of life.
Essentially Maick’s film is an examination of life and death and whilst the film is both profound and visually spectacular, it is riddled with faults. Admittedly the subtlety of the direction, the depth of the characters and the stunning cinematography must be highly commended. Seldom has one seen such tenderness and affection in the birth of a child or the relationship between two brothers being portrayed in film. Moreover the eldest son’s relationship with his loving-tyrannical father, played outstandingly by Brad Pitt, is exceptional in its genuine contradictory nature. Interwoven and conflicted emotions natural to all human families are probed with such sensitivity in Malick’s film that it is akin to the poetic.
However, The Tree Of Life lacks moderation. Malick’s excessive use of whispering voices undermines the genuine emotion in the film and not infrequently feels corny. His continual scenes of natural imagery cease to impress and often seem more like indecision than insightful symbolism. It feels as though Malick has endeavoured to create a cinematic masterpiece but has gone too far and so missed the mark. Ultimately Malick’s over-ambitious attempt, although flecked with moments of true beauty, verges on the self-important and at times, the tiresome. Yet despite this The Tree of Life is a film worth watching. With the right amount of patience and sensitivity, it is possible to come away from this film sufficiently impressed.
