Gus Van Sant will be making waves on the Croisette this weekend when his new film The Sea of Trees finally bows in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, but for now the first clip from the survival drama has debuted online for all to see just as The Hollywood Reporter brings word the film has been picked up for U.S. distribution by Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate.
This first look at the film features Matthew McConaughey and Ken Watanabe attempting to find their way through Aokigahara, a mysterious Japanese forest at the base of Mount Fuji known as the Sea of Trees, or more ominously, Suicide Forest.
It seems that second nickname is quite befitting as The Sea of Trees follows Arthur Brennan (McConaughey), an American trekking into the dense forest where people often go to contemplate life and death. Having found the perfect place to take his own life in the wake of his wife’s death, Arthur encounters Takumi Nakamura (Watanabe), a Japanese man who has also lost his way. In the Sea of Trees, the two men begin a journey of reflection and survival.
The Sea of Trees also stars Naomi Watts, and was written by Chris Sparling (Buried). Check out the clip below, it’s just a small sampling but if you ask me it’s an excellent first clip to release to the public. Before watching it I knew very little, and after watching it I think I know even less, but I’m massively intrigued.
