Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? -Job 36: 4-7.
With this biblical scripture begins a surrealist journey into the mind of Terrence Malick.
Surrealism tells a story in a nontraditional manner. Thoughts are not screened. Instead, the full effect of thought and daydream are run out in a series of messages and imagery that form a topic. At least, that is my interpretation of Surrealism, I am not certain that there is a finite definition of the art form. Surrealism likes to create dichotomies that can then be juxtaposed for the purpose of comparison and contrast. Tree of Life examines life through the eyes of one family, but within the broader context of creation.
After explaining the concept of creation through Job (which is later reiterated in a Sunday sermon) we meet the eventual mother of this family, Mrs. O'Brien (Jessica Chastain). Mrs. O'Brien sets up the dichotomy through a series of reflections on lessons "the nuns" taught her. Among them were the paths of Grace and Nature. Nature fulfills its own desire while Grace rewards you in the end. This concept is explored through surreal sequences that depict the creation of our world.
The creation sequences created their own juxtaposition for me, apart from the story of the O'Briens. I questioned whether I was watching Intelligent Design or Evolution. The film appeared to depict a version of creation that had a more Darwinian feel. Either way, the very act of creating the parallels between creation and evolution pose the question that makes the thought process surreal. It creates comparison and contrast that can be further debated or mused upon once the film has finished. I enjoyed that part, but felt a disconnect between the creation story and the O'Briens.
The O'Briens are depicted as a typical 1950s era family. They eat meals together, they call their father "sir" and the family dynamic has a formal quality to it. You may be able to ferret out more symbolism in a stern but loving father (Brad Pitt), but the story really focuses on the eldest son, Jack (Hunter McCracken, Sean Penn). Jack has many of his fathers qualities. He realizes that his younger brother RL (Laramie Eppler) is clearly favored by both his parents. The father appreciates RL's musical gifts while he shares a tenderness with his mother. Jack is harder. He has an edginess that never develops the way I thought it might. Instead, it is RL that lacks the tolerance for the complexities of life.
The family dynamics are explored a variety of ways, from the sibling relationships to the undercurrent of tension. The characters have an interesting depth, especially the father figure. The stern Mr. O'Brien seems short-tempered, yet his passion for music and his twenty-seven patents demonstrate his clearly artistic leanings. Jack's inherits his father's inner struggles without the talent. His constant struggles as a twelve-year old are typical and telling. In the background, the mother continues to question God, who simply answers in dreams of creation, as if he were still addressing Job.
The Tree of Life relies heavily on imagery to move the story along. Knowledge of the symbolism used in the film will help your understanding of the message. The film has a preoccupation with water, which primarily represents life. Still waters can reflect serenity, while rushing waters (or the ocean) convey strength and power. In this case, the water generally represents God's (or natures) power and ability to create life. Interestingly, the Bible mentions water nearly a thousand times. The film frequently employs doors, which can convey a variety of similar meanings. In one scene, a child swims through an open door, which (to me) indicates passage from one life to another. Doors are generally passages and may also convey hope, opportunity, liberation or new life. When represented simply as a threshold, as it is in the final scene, it is generally a passage between the natural and supernatural (which brings us back to the nature versus grace concept).
Ultimately, I gave The Tree of Life an Incomplete. It is a good film on many levels. The film is stunningly visual, but the message is muted. While the themes are supported with a minimalist dialogue, the connection between creation and Jack's inner turmoil are never fully connected. The film uses juxtaposition, but never with the two major themes. The film opens with God lecturing Job on the wonder of his creation. That strong opening and reaffirmed concept never fully played out for me alongside Jack's struggle. There were also sub-plots involving the youngest brother that were never fully explored.
Tree of Life presented difficult challenges for the cast. The hushed quality of the dialogue and purely visual aspect of many scenes required careful direction and focused performances. The cast handled that challenge superbly, but I had trouble hearing the full dialogue at times. The exceptional soundtrack occasionally drowned out important tidbits of dialogue, which were scarce to begin with. Pitt was exceptional, but may have been upstaged by the edgy McCracken, who has been surprisingly silent since this film. For a young actor in his first film, McCracken deserves some accolades. He was superb.
I have mixed feelings about The Tree of Life. As a fan of Salvador Dali, I like surrealism when it is properly done (not that all of his work appealed to me). For a feature length film (and this one is long at 139 minutes), the film had awkward pacing at times. The surreal qualities compromised the message, parts of which were lost in the translation. If the broader themes were tied together somehow, I did not see it. I enjoyed the performances but wish the soundtrack had not overpowered the subdued dialogue. Visually, this film is nothing short of incredible. But I want more than purely visual stimulation from a film. I want a level of completion, which I felt this film lacked. Because there were so many positive qualities, I will recommend this film with 6/10. However, this film is not for everyone. If you prefer linear stories with cohesive plots, this is not for you.
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