Director Terrence Malick (1943)

A Hidden Life (2019) is an epic historical drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick. Born and raised in the small village of St. Radegund, Austrian peasant farmer Franz Jägerstätter is tending to his land when war breaks out. Alongside his wife Franziska, affectionately known as Fani, they are valued members of their close-knit rural community, living a humble life with their three daughters. However, Franz is called for basic training in the German army and must leave behind his beloved family for an extended period. When France surrenders and it appears that the war may soon end, he is sent home from ...

Terrence Malick’s American experimental romantic drama film, Song to Song (2017), follows the story of Faye, a guitarist seeking success in Austin, Texas. Her journey leads her to become involved with both record producer Cook and musician BV. As Faye’s relationship with BV deepens, she embarks on a secret affair with Cook, leading to a trip to Mexico with all three of them. Meanwhile, Rhonda, a former kindergarten teacher now working as a waitress at a diner, catches the eye of Cook and they eventually marry. However, their professional and personal lives become strained as tensions rise between Cook and ...

Voyage of Time (2016), an American experimental documentary written and directed by Terrence Malick, is an exploration of the origin and end of the known universe. The film was a culmination of over forty years of work for Malick and has been described by him as “one of my greatest dreams”. It was released in two versions: a forty-minute IMAX version narrated by Brad Pitt, and a feature-length edition (also known as Voyage of Time: Life’s Journey) narrated by Cate Blanchett. Additionally, the ...

Knight of Cups (2015) is an American experimental drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick. It tells the story of a young prince, whose father, the king of the East, sends him on a mission to find a pearl in Egypt. However, upon arriving, he is offered a drink that causes him to forget his royal identity and fall into a deep slumber. The King sends out many messengers in search of his son, hoping to guide him back home. As a child, Rick would often hear this tale from his father. Now grown and working as a screenwriter in Santa Monica, he yearns for something more meaningful but doesn’t know where to ...

To the Wonder (2012) is an American experimental romantic drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick, following the story of Neil, an American traveler who falls for Marina, a Ukrainian divorcée living in Paris with her young daughter Tatiana. As their love blossoms, they journey to Mont St. Michel in Normandy. Eventually, Neil invites Marina and Tatiana to join him in his hometown of Oklahoma, where he has taken a job as an environmental inspector. However, as time goes on, their fiery relationship begins to cool. Marina finds comfort in the company of Father Quintana, a troubled Catholic priest grappling with ...

The American epic experimental coming-of-age drama film, The Tree of Life (2011), written and directed by Terrence Malick, follows the O’Brien family during two pivotal periods. In the 1960s, the family is thrown into turmoil upon learning of the death of their 19-year-old son, R.L. In contrast, in 2010, eldest son Jack struggles with his life as an architect in Dallas, Texas, feeling disillusioned and disappointed. Throughout the film, Mrs. O’Brien asks God why R.L. had to die while visuals show the creation of the universe and Earth’s beginnings. At one point, a compassionate dinosaur chooses not to ...

The historical romantic drama film, The New World (2005), was written and directed by Terrence Malick. It tells the story of Pocahontas, the adventurous daughter of Chief Powhatan, and her tribe’s encounter with three English ships in 1607. Captain John Smith, who had been sentenced to death for mutinous comments on board one of the ships, is pardoned upon arrival ashore by Captain Christopher Newport. Despite an initially promising start, the colony soon faces challenges such as disease, poor discipline, supply shortages and tensions with the local Native Americans – referred to as ‘the ...

The Thin Red Line (1998), an American epic war film by Terrence Malick, is the second adaptation of James Jones’ 1962 novel. Private Witt of the United States Army goes AWOL in 1942 and lives amongst Melanesian natives in the South Pacific. However, he is eventually discovered and confined on a troopship by First Sergeant Welsh. Due to his actions, Witt is not allowed to rejoin his unit and is instead assigned as a stretcher bearer for an upcoming campaign. C Company, led by Capt. James Staros, has been called to Guadalcanal to reinforce the efforts in securing ...

Days of Heaven (1978) is a romantic period drama film directed and written by Terrence Malick. Set in 1916, the story follows Bill, a laborer from Chicago who accidentally kills his boss at a steel mill and flees with his girlfriend Abby and sister Linda to the Texas Panhandle. In order to avoid gossip, Bill and Abby pretend to be siblings when they are hired by a shy wealthy farmer as seasonal workers. The farmer’s doctor reveals he only has one year left to live but doesn’t specify the illness. As the farmer falls for Abby, Bill convinces her to marry him so they can inherit his wealth. However, their ...

Badlands (1973), an American neo-noir crime drama film, marks the directorial debut of Terrence Malick. Holly Sargis, a 15-year-old in Fort Dupree, narrates the story from her perspective. Following her mother’s death from pneumonia, Holly’s relationship with her father, a sign painter, becomes strained. Her admiration for actor James Dean leads her to take notice of Kit Carruthers, a troubled greaser and Korean War veteran who shares similar features. As their bond deepens, Holly learns of Kit’s underlying violent and antisocial tendencies. Despite her father’s disapproval and his consequent ...