Review of The Tree of Life (2011) by Branden R — 19 May 2014

Early in the film a lengthy 'artistic' exploration of images will lose some people while providing a visceral emotional experience for others. The film opens with a powerful sequence exploring loss, death and meaning and builds on this throughout the movie.

Characters explore the pain of critical judgment and harsh, even explosive rage and how this shapes the lives and outlook of entire lives. This is a powerful film exploring the meaning of life, our experience and death, loss and coming to terms with the harsh unforgiving reality of our existence while offering a loving, forgiving view of the beauty of life, the joy we can create for ourselves, share with others and ultimately find within ourselves as we grow to accept life on life's terms.

It explores the pain of disconnection and of being painfully connected. It offers a 'vision' of joy free of the pretense of any verbose spiritual commentary. It is an extraordinary film with cutting insight into our human experience and the struggle of surviving in a quite dysfunctional family that is bonded through love and pain, anger, isolation and admiration.