Faith in Film 4, Week 5

Here's a look at tonight's worksheet!


Title: “Tree of Life” (2011)

Starring: Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, and Sean Penn

Synopsis: Few films received as mixed response as “Tree of Life.” It won the Palm D’Orr at the Cannes Film Festival — the highest prize for a film at the festival — and was a Best Picture nominee. But it wasn’t universally lauded, or even understood. It seemed like those that saw the film fell into two camps — they loved it for the style and exploration of larger themes or hated it for the style and the way it tackled those themes. There was very little middle ground. Such is the fate of many Terrance Malick films.

Personally, I was moved by some of the larger fabric and ideas of this film, but wasn’t totally sold on the entire production. This is a completely non-linear film. There is no plot, per se, just a collection of musings, thoughts, reactions, and events that pertain to three characters — a mother, a father, and their son. This film is an exploration of some high-minded concepts — such as the meaning of life, the nature of grief, the contrast between the nature of God and the evil in this world, and the rationale for being a good person — that flow in a very deconstructed way. That combined with the fact the film weighs in at more than 2.5 hours were big turn offs to many audience members. That makes this a fascinating film. Also fascinating with the way Malick approaches these topics. It would be fair to say he comes at them as an agnostic — he seems open to faith but doesn’t quite get it.

Questions to Consider:
1. How do you reconcile the nature of God with the evil in this world?


2. Why do bad things happen to good or innocent people?


3. What do you think of when you consider God? Who is God? How, as a mere human, can we rationally hope to understand God?