Print Blog
Email a FriendRebecca, I had no idea this existed, thank you so much for sharing! I can’t wait to look into it. But I have been keen on getting a book by Gregory Wolfe called “Beauty Will Save the World” offered at Intercollegiate Studies Institute website (http://www.isi.org). I think it was not available until recently, so I didn’t order it when I ordered others, but this clip you posted just reminded me of it. God bless!
Tree of Life
What did you think?
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Reviews on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 11:01 AM
My friend Tom Hoopes calls Tree of Life “Into Deep Silence” for lay people.
I like that description, although the film isn’t merely a quiet meditation on a way of life.
It poses a question to the viewer, the same question the main character must grapple with.
Which is the path to happiness: what the film calls “the way of nature” or “the way of grace?” Is life just “one dang thing after another,” and each of us must grasp what goods we may? Or is it, even in the midst of suffering and sorrow, ordered, mysterious and profoundly beautiful?
I loved this film, although it took me a while to surrender to its meditative pace.
It’s been said the most effective apologetic in our culture is the argument from Beauty, and this unusual film makes a strong case for “the way of grace” without forcing the conclusion.
Have you seen it? What did you think?
Comments
Page 1 of 1 pages
Posted by Mary Kate on Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 1:04 PM (EDT):
LOVED Sr. Helena Burns’ review of the movie (http://hellburns.blogspot.com/2011/05/movies-tree-of-life.html)
[Note from Rebecca: Mary Kate, I hope this is the link you intended. What was originally linked was something w/ a similar web address, but definitely not Sr. Helena!]
Posted by Renee on Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 4:53 PM (EDT):
This movie looks wonderful and I have a question for those that have seen it, what ages of children would you say it is appropriate for and who would get the most out of the movie? Thanks!
Posted by Rebecca Teti on Tuesday, Jul 12, 2011 7:20 PM (EDT):
Renee, it’s been three weeks since I’ve seen it and I don’t recall foul language, but there are scenes of an intense argument between a husband and wife that almost comes to blows and a similarly intense argument between father and son that my husband and I agreed were not for our eldest (who’s 14). The scenes are shot with restraint, but they are definitely for a mature audience. Also, Tom Hoopes’ comparison to Into Great Silence is apt. Although there is a story, it is interwoven with nature footage in such a way that it is more like a prolonged contemplation on a theme. It’s very slow. I think only an older, mature teen would “get” the movie.
Post a Comment
By submitting this form, you give Faith And Family Magazine permission to publish this comment. Comments will be published at our discretion, and may be edited for clarity and length. For best formatting, please limit your response to one paragraph and don't hit "enter" to force line breaks.
