We’ve been bringing you release updates on Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life over the last year because that’s all we’ve got on it. There are some vague plot details involving Brad Pitt and a story which “centers around a family with three boys in the 1950s. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence.” But it’s cryptic and no one really knows much about it because Malick is so secretive, but it looks like we now know when we’ll all be able to experience Malick’s newest film in all of its glory on the big screen. Apparition pres Bob Berny told Anne Thompson (via The Playlist) that Tree of Life “is definitely set for release in November.”
As for the claim from January of this year that The Tree of Life might be premiering for the very first time at the Cannes Film Festival in May, it was rumored a little while back that it might not make that premiere and will hit later on. However, Berney says a November release “doesn’t mean it won’t be ready for Cannes,” but it sounds like they don’t expect to make a big splash there because they’re unsure if Malick will be done by then. At least we know it’ll be ready by November and it could hit some of the later festivals like Toronto even if it doesn’t show up at Cannes.

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This is about the evolution of a young man (Brad Pitt) in 1950s Midwest to his disillusioned adult adulthood. We trace the evolution of an eleven-year-old boy in the Midwest, Jack, one of three brothers. At first all seems marvelous to the child. He sees as his mother does, with the eyes of his soul. She represents the way of love and mercy, where the father tries to teach his son the world’s way, of putting oneself first. Each parent contends for his allegiance, and Jack must reconcile their claims. The picture darkens as he has his first glimpses of sickness, suffering and death. The world, once a thing of glory, becomes a labyrinth. Framing this story is that of adult Jack (Sean Penn), a lost soul in a modern world, seeking to discover amid the changing scenes of time that which does not change: the eternal scheme of which we are a part…

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Terrence Malick’s epic The Tree of Life has been (and still is) a long time coming, as most all Malick films are. Luckily, this one appears to finally be poking its head above post-producive waters, courtesy of distributor Apparition, which seems intent on keeping the indie art film alive all by itself (they distributed films like Bright Star and The Young Victoria last year. Hell even Boondock Saints II), with Tree of Life and Kristen Stewart-led The Runaways next year.

In this article, Apparition’s leader Bob Berney gets excited about Malick’s new undertaking and a possible Cannes premiere: “There’s also no hiding Berney’s enthusiasm when he speaks about Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life, due in the fall of 2010. Noting that the filmmaker, in spite of having directed only a handful of features, is a cult figure who has been a favorite at Cannes (Malick was named the fest’s Best Director in 1979 for Days of Heaven), Berney is eyeing a Cannes slot to premiere the much-anticipated Brad Pitt/Sean Penn starrer.”

Read more/discuss. Thanks to Sandra.

Ok, that’s sort of a trick question as it’s probably debatable whether there is a “plot” to Terrence Malick’s “Tree Of Life” — though there will be many heavenly pretty shots of ladybugs landing in the palms of children’s hand, lovingly inspected with curiosity and awe — but French composer Alexandre Desplat, who wrote the score, just “revealed” more plot that anyone part of the cast ever has.

“It’s a deep story about love, how you transmit love, through your family; from the parents to the children. And the evolution of mankind… since the creation. Heavy things, but with everyday life things. That’s one of the great ideas that Terrence has been working on. We see a family in the ’50s in Texas in their everyday lives, but there’s more, of course, connections to the big picture.”

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Perhaps the most predictable news of the season comes today by way of Anne Thompson at indieWIRE. She reports that Terrence Malick’s heavily anticipated film “The Tree of Life” will not be ready for release this year:

Apparition had tentatively scheduled a December 25 release for River Road’s 50s period film, which stars Sean Penn and Brad Pitt. But Apparition chief Bob Berney says that a year-end opening was “wishful. It’s definitely not going to come out this year.” That’s because it won’t be finished in time. Berney still hasn’t seen the film.

Source/discuss. Thanks Raiderfan.

If all goes according to plan and if all goes well in the notoriously finicky editing room, Terrence Malick’s long-awaited, “The Tree Of Life,” (dubbed a “mystical epic”)will hit U.S. theaters on December 25 via the newly-named Apparition distributors according to Entertainment Weekly’s Fall Preview edition .

Makes complete sense since trade reports already said the film would hit sometime in December (or the “late holiday season,” but what else is that but December?).

Could Sony Pictures be somehow involved? Last week on a Johnny Depp message board, an observant reader noted that imaginariummovie.com, redirected to the Sony movies website and then a day later, Sony Pictures Classics announced they would distribute “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” (a film that Depp co-stars in).

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You can also see scans, here.

The Playlist has been great about uncovering info about the two upcoming Terrence Malick films, The Tree of Life and Voyage of Time. The Tree of Life is the feature starring Sean Penn and Brad Pitt in a father/son tale about the loss of innocence. Voyage of Time is an IMAX documentary about, essentially, the birth and death of the universe. Both films feature work by Peter Parks, the macro photography guru who created amazingly beautiful (and affordable) effects images for Darren Aronofsky’s The Fountain.

Read more/discuss. Brad would be narrating Voyage of Time. Very interesting and exciting however, unconfirmed.

Terrance Malick’s latest drama, “Tree of Life,” which stars Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain has been in production for many years now, and was originally set for a 2009 release date but due to the notorious slow pace of Malick, the film seemed doomed for 2010, or beyond. Or at least, 2010 seems to be where it was pushed. Let’s be honest, know one knows a thing about this film (including Malick).

But today the Italian newspaper La Repubblica says the hot news in Italy is that “Tree of Life” may actually be playing at the Rome International Film Festival which last from October 15th-23rd while possibly setting it up for a late 2009 release date.

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