The Tree of Life (2011)
The film begins with a quotation from the Book of Job 38:4-7: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the Earth?… When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Then, a mysterious, flame-like light flickers in the darkness. Around the 1960s, Mrs. and Mr. O’Brien are informed of the death of their 19-year-old son, R.L., throwing the family into turmoil. Circa 2010, the O’Briens’ eldest son, Jack, is adrift in his modern life as an architect, though disillusioned by his youth. Amid all this, voiceovers from Ms. O’Brien asks God why should R.L. die. This is then followed by visuals depict the birth of the universe, later the Earth, where volcanoes erupt and microbes begin to form and replicate. Sea life is born, then plants on land, then dinosaurs. A dinosaur chooses not to kill another dinosaur that is injured and lying on the side of a river bed. An asteroid strikes the Earth.
In a suburban neighborhood in Waco, Texas, live the O’Briens. The young couple is enthralled by their new baby Jack and, later, his two brothers R.L. and Stevie. When Jack reaches adolescence, he is faced with the conflict of accepting the way of grace or nature, as embodied by his parents. Mrs. O’Brien, the embodiment of grace, presents the world to her sons as a place of wonder. Mr. O’Brien, the embodiment of nature, easily loses his temper as he struggles to reconcile his love for his sons, wanting to prepare them for a world he sees as corrupt and exploitative. He laments his decision to work in a power plant instead of pursuing his passion for music, and tries to get ahead by filing patents for various inventions.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Brad PittMr. O'Brien  Sean PennJack  Hunter McCrackenYoung Jack  Jessica ChastainMrs. O'Brien  Laramie EpplerR.L. O'Brien  Tye SheridanSteve O'Brien  Fiona ShawGrandmother |
The film begins with a quotation from the Book of Job 38:4-7: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the Earth?… When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Then, a mysterious, flame-like light flickers in the darkness. Around the 1960s, Mrs. and Mr. O’Brien are informed of the death of their 19-year-old son, R.L., throwing the family into turmoil. Circa 2010, the O’Briens’ eldest son, Jack, is adrift in his modern life as an architect, though disillusioned by his youth. Amid all this, voiceovers from Ms. O’Brien asks God why should R.L. die. This is then followed by visuals depict the birth of the universe, later the Earth, where volcanoes erupt and microbes begin to form and replicate. Sea life is born, then plants on land, then dinosaurs. A dinosaur chooses not to kill another dinosaur that is injured and lying on the side of a river bed. An asteroid strikes the Earth.
In a suburban neighborhood in Waco, Texas, live the O’Briens. The young couple is enthralled by their new baby Jack and, later, his two brothers R.L. and Stevie. When Jack reaches adolescence, he is faced with the conflict of accepting the way of grace or nature, as embodied by his parents. Mrs. O’Brien, the embodiment of grace, presents the world to her sons as a place of wonder. Mr. O’Brien, the embodiment of nature, easily loses his temper as he struggles to reconcile his love for his sons, wanting to prepare them for a world he sees as corrupt and exploitative. He laments his decision to work in a power plant instead of pursuing his passion for music, and tries to get ahead by filing patents for various inventions.
