2011
Character: Mr. O’Brien
Release Date: 27 May 2011 (limited)
Directed By: Terrence Malick
Written By: Terrence Malick
Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama/Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Tagline: –
MPAA Rating: –
Produced by: Plan B Entertainment, River Road Entertainment, Cottonwood Pictures
Distributed by: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Budget: –
Filming Dates: March 2008 – ?
Cast:
…Brad Pitt…- Mr. O’Brien
…Sean Penn…- Jack
…Jessica Chastain…- Mrs. O’Brien
…Fiona Shaw…- Grandmother
…Joanne Going…- Jack’s Wife
Filming Locations:
Austin, Texas, USA
Bastrop, Texas, USA
Dallas, Texas, USA
Death Valley National Park, California, USA
Goblin Valley State Park – Highway 24, Green River, Utah, USA
Houston, Texas, USA
La Grange, Texas, USA
Matagorda, Texas, USA
Parco dei Mostri, Bomarzo, Viterbo, Lazio, Italy
San Marcos, Texas, USA (exterior)
Smithville, Texas, USA
Villa Lante, Viterbo, Lazio, Italy
Waco, Texas, USA
Synopsis:
Tree of Life is a period film centered around three boys in the 1950s. The eldest son of two characters (Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain) witnesses the loss of innocence.
We trace the evolution of Jack, an eleven-year-old boy in the Midwest, who is one of three brothers. At first, the world seems marvelous to the child. He sees everything as his mother does, with the eyes of his soul. She represents the way of love and mercy, while the father tries to teach his son the world’s way, of putting oneself first. Each parent tries to influence Jack, who must reconcile their claims with each other. The picture darkens as he has his first glimpses of sickness, suffering and death. The world, once a thing of glory, becomes a labyrinth.
Trivia & Facts:
• In the summer of 1978, Malick had begun work on this film, which was his most ambitious project. It was called Q at the time, but now it has returned with the title Tree of Life
• Heath Ledger was originally slated to play Mr. O’Brien. Brad Pitt took over the role.
• In 2005 Terrence Malick had talked to Colin Farrell about starring in the lead role.
• Mel Gibson was considered for a role in this film.
• The origin of this film goes back to the late 1970s, when after Days of Heaven (1978) director Terrence Malick was working on a project named “Q”, that would explore the origins of life on earth. He abandoned the project, but this film contains elements from it.
• Production designer Jack Fisk drew inspiration from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• VFX supervisor Mike Fink described the film’s scenes of the birth/death of the universe as “not narratively connected, but thematically complementary pieces.”
• The tree of life that appears in the film is a gargantuan 65000-pound live-oak tree situated at Smithville, Texas.
From the gallery
Quotes
Mr. O’Brien: I’ve just wanted you to grow up strong, be your own man…
External Links
…Official website
…IMDB