Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life hits theaters in New York and Los Angeles this Friday, May 27 and will expand nationwide throughout the month of June (find a list of release dates and theaters here). So as part of the promotion Fox Searchlight sent over four new clips from the film and they are lengthy ones at that giving you a look at the earliest scene depicting the love between Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain’s characters leading to the birth of their children, a pair of clips presenting the dynamic between Pitt’s character and his sons and finally the scene from the film that gives you your first look at Sean Penn’s character, an older version of Jack, the eldest son seen hugging Pitt at the end of the “Brahms” clip.
The Tree of Life won the Cannes Film Festival’s top prize this year, the Palme d’Or, and in my review from the Festival I called it “a film I’m sure will benefit from repeat viewings, but upon the first screening the multiple themes don’t really add up. Yet, I don’t think now is the time to make a final judgment.”
I concluded my review with the following paragraph:
It’s hard for me to decide what more can be said about a film that explores the roots of humanity’s relationship with God through a cosmic exploration of life. Just as this film took 40 years to make, it may be another 40 years before I’m ever able to come to a final conclusion on what it entirely means to me.
All of this is to say it’s a film I believe everyone will view differently, with no clear opinion as to what it’s about or what you should takeaway from it. In this sense it’s a challenge I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts on. Now give the clips below a watch as I don’t think any of them spoil the film as much as they prepare you for all it has to offer.
For more on The Tree of Life click here and you can read my full review from the 64th Cannes Film Festival right here.
