The Tree of Life

On the anniversary of his younger brother’s death, Jack O’Brien (Sean Penn) reflects on his childhood in 1950s Texas. His gentle mother (Jessica Chastain) taught him wonder and kindness, while his strict, frustrated father (Brad Pitt) loved him deeply but was often overly harsh and sometimes abusive. Living with them and his younger brothers, Jack questions the nature of God, the purpose of suffering, and what kind of man he wants to become.

Director Terrence Malick expands on these themes by meditatively reflecting on creation itself, from the birth of the universe to the first stirrings of life on Earth, before returning to the quiet streets of suburban Texas and the small details of one boy’s childhood. Throughout the film, we hear characters’ prayers and questions to God as they wrestle with the oldest of human questions: Why did God create us? Where is He in the midst of our suffering? How do beauty and grief exist side by side in the same world?

The Tree of Life is not your standard narrative told in self-contained scenes. Rather we dreamily flow from one childhood memory to another, giving us space to reflect on the mysteries of life that the characters themselves are pondering. And there’s much to reflect on here, from the nature of suffering drawn from the Book of Job, to the film’s final vision of redemption and resurrection. Given the film’s contemplative nature and its PG-13 rating, it is better suited for older viewers.

Runtime: 2 hours, 19 minutes
Rated PG-13
CNS Classification: A-II
86% on Rotten Tomatoes
IMDb Parents Guide
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