The impressionistic story of a Texas family in the 1950s. The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father. Jack finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith.
life father abuse family sibling relationship parent child relationship afterlife christianity philosophy tree sun texas telegram bible surrealism meteor coming of age spirituality grief space religion memory dinosaur birth death grace childhood death of brother silhouette existentialism organist masculinity cosmos 1950s philosophical self reflection newborn baby organ player waco texas father son relationship mother son relationship brother brother relationship stream of consciousness existential crisis pantheism
sah reviewed The Tree of Life (2011)
Contextualizing the Tree of Life
The film attempts to contextualize our existence---that our experiences, although a minor blip in cosmological time—are fundamental to human development. We relive the moments where we anger or brothers, challenge our fathers, and fall in love with our mothers. We imagine the moments of the big bang, supernovas, the cooling of the planet, and the emergence of terrestrial life.
We are all for our place in the universe. Although defined by limited and often derivative experiences, we seek reassurance that they contribute to the grand scheme of existence. Have faith that it does!