International Jury Award (Best Film)
Nominee
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The Tree2010
The exquisite Charlotte Gainsbourg stars in French filmmaker Julie Bertuccelli’s achingly beautiful follow-up to her sleeper hit SINCE OTAR LEFT. The Closing Night film at Cannes in 2010, THE TREE is a mystical drama of loss and rebirth in the Australian countryside. Not since classic 1970s works PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK and WALKABOUT has the harshly gorgeous outback landscape been such a lyrical yet foreboding metaphor for grief and coming of age. Blindsided with anguish after her husband’s sudden death, Dawn (Gainsbourg), along with her four young children, struggles to make sense of life without him. Eight-year-old Simone (unforgettable newcomer Morgana Davies) becomes convinced that her father is whispering to her through the leaves of the gargantuan fig tree that towers over their house. The family is initially comforted by its presence but then THE TREE’s enormous roots slowly begin to encroach on the abode and threaten their fragile existence.
Recognition
What makes this film worth watching?
Adapted from the novel "Our Father Who Art in the Tree" by Australian author Judy Pascoe.
3 members like this review
A tenderly wrought film, that is sublime in its understated unfolding of a young family in transition, grieving the unexpected and sudden loss of husband and father. Poetic in its metaphors. Beautifully scripted, acted, and directed. The Tree is an exquisite film in every way.
top reviewer
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Starring
- Zoe Boe - Megan Lu
- Christian Byers - Tim
- Marton Csokas - George
- Morgana Davies - Simone O'Neil
- Arthur Dignam - Uncle Jack
- Charlotte Gainsbourg - Dawn O'Neil
- Gabriel Gotting - Charlie
- Penne Hackforth-Jones - Mrs Johnson
- Gillian Jones - Vonnie
- Bob MacKay - Ab
- Ryan Potter - Tree Lopper
- Tom Russell - Lou
- Murray Shoring
- Taren Stewart
- Aden Young - Peter
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Member Reviews (18)
top reviewer
A tenderly wrought film, that is sublime in its understated unfolding of a young family in transition, grieving the unexpected and sudden loss of husband and father. Poetic in its metaphors. Beautifully scripted, acted, and directed. The Tree is an exquisite film in every way.
3 members like this review
top reviewer
Haunting, mystical, evocative. Charlotte Gainsbourg gives a painfully
sensitive performance as a widow grieving the sudden loss of her
young husband.
3 members like this review
top reviewer
I loved the tree. (Never thought it would turn into an antagonist. ) I found solace in it, as did the protagonist. Charlotte Gainsbourg has a subtle, yet haunting, presence in the movie. Every woman who has suffered can identify with her. I could feel the breeze through the tree's leaves at night, and to this day I can still hear its soft whisper. Beautiful movie.
2 members like this review
top reviewer
This film is visual poetry: it evokes so much emotion through incredible use of image. Beautifully done.
2 members like this review
a beautiful slightly sad movie. makes u wanna live and love)
1 member likes this review
filmmaker
THE TREE is a French co-production with Germany, Italy and Australia (and filmed in English in the latter country). The director and principle protagonist are French.
top reviewer
Charlotte is wonderful_so is the girl_amazing
Overall, this was a film that you will want to watch from start to finish. The storyline is deceptively simple on the surface, but the attention to detail takes what could have been a routine story to a much deeper level. The complex performance by Ms. Gainsbourg and wonderful acting by the children in the film expresses the range of intense feelings related to dealing with a tragic event in life. The musical score complements the mystery and poetic nature of the Tree. Although the events that happen are sad in many ways, the resilience of the characters to work through their challenges is inspiring. A movie worth a second viewing.
So much potential. So little delivery. There are way better films on here. Watch them.
Loved every minute of it.
average
Excellent, emotional.
I liked it until they started butchering the tree. Starting with the first windstorm, cutting a limb. I cant believe that this beautiful tree was uprooted for a stupid film.
The ex husband moved houses, why didn't they move the house?
This kind of damage to nature should be outlawed.
The Tree is a good movie, touching the sole
Sally Mann meets Bon Iver
NOT FRENCH!
great!
Good movie. Poignant, sad , but true.