L'arbre

A strong, layered second film by Julie Bertocelli, one which probably deserves more recognition that it has been given by most critics. I found it difficult to take my eyes off of Charlotte Gainsbourg, who gave a sensitive and complex portrayal of a woman grieving her husband's passing. While the film may have been compared to WALKABOUT, given the cinematic opportunities of the outback, the spiritual nature of the environment paves way for specific beautiful and endearing unexpected visual delights which compliment the narrative in obvious ways, but perhaps not offensively so. The film is quite focused. It is kept simple and unfolds nicely. I found it much more pleasing to sit through than TREE OF LIFE. Bertocelli's film is much more tightly woven and traditional in form, not necessarily any less authentic or profound. Moments were delightful, not excruciatingly painful in the sense of wallowing, allowing the occasional irritation from the daughter to seep into the point where you just want Dawn to slap her across the face. May make more of an interesting comparison the that tree scene in Poltergeist or the horror film about the WOODS. Definitely underrated on here, a film well worth checking out.

I would like to add information about this film some people might find interesting it was actually shot in different locations in Queensland.. Winton, which actually is in the outback roughly in the middle of QLD and Boonah and the Kalbar/Tarome area not far from Boonah in South East QLD (not really the outback) Winton is over 1,350 kms from Boonah despite the geographical differences in the locations they blend seamlessly together being from the area ( The view outside my window includes the giant Moreton Bay Fig now known as "The Tree") it is amazing to see how they made these entirely different locations look like the same place as for the film it's an interesting combination of fantasy and reality light on fantasy heavy on reality it is not supposed to provide the answers to questions that arise from the family's situation it avoids, or attempts to avoid depictions of various characters reactions that are cliche even if that is to the detriment of the character or film nor does it have a neat and tidy ending that resolves all their issues and sets a clear path for the future that would seem more unreal, it is the unknown in that regard that is slightly haunting. It wasn't perfect in the acting department and was a little overlong but it had just enough puff to get me to the end. I wouldn't say the story and much of the film was enjoyable it's not that kind of film it was more like looking through a window into other peoples misfortunes and you feel lucky that that isn't you..the funny part was the frogs in the toilet and that does actually happen out here in the sticks sometimes that is not so funny.

Well. I had read reviews of this, and was looking forward to something good. What we got was - well - mediocre, really.

Charlotte Gainsbourg has been playing fragile, tense characters for a while, now. Don't get me wrong, she's good at it, but in this film she seems to have been either left without constraints to overact at will, or, worse still, TOLD to act like a gibbering, self centred wreck. (And, yes, I KNOW bereavement is tough, is excruciating, but she just gives up, then goes out to attach herself to another man).

On the other hand, Morgana Davies is just amazing. The most natural, real child actress I've seen in years, since Catinca Untaru in The Fall (2006). Just stunningly, amazingly well done.

OK, the film is about bereavement, and loss, and as a principle, and as a core and theme, this is certainly carried through, but on the one hand badly, and on the other brilliantly.

As to the other characters? Pretty well all of them two dimensional.

And, hey, if you can move houses like that, why not move the damn house a few metres down the hill and be done with it?

Morgana Davies. One to watch. Definitely.

The universal theme of suffering after the abrupt death of a dear one, with the necessity for those who remain to go on with life, is here presented in a very serene way. No melodrama, no anxiety, no exaggeration in sensitivity, but solid realism, with a touch of the magic of this tree, heart of the family and of the movie. It's a movie which follows the pace and the inner development of the single characters, mainly of Dawn, the mother, and Simone, the daughter, both wonderfully interpreted by a high-talented Charlotte Gainsbourg, and by a surprisingly mature little girl. It's a movie about the need to go on, to accept the strokes of life with the force and dignity that, let me say it, sometimes only women have, with no sentimentalism, no pathetic indulgence, but with sober realism and a strong feeling for human courage. Another movie that unfortunately will not reach the great distribution, but we know that the phantasmagoric magic of Harry Potter attracts more public and brings more money than the humble magic of a fig tree. However, a truly valid picture.

This film is about a family that griefs the sudden death of the husband / father, as he collapsed while driving.

"The Tree" is an intensely introspective film, as it attempts to sculpt the emotional states, thoughts and feelings of the family members after the husband's death. As the husband's car hit a tree next to their house, the rest of the family have a special attachment to this tree. This attachment become central to the plot, and it requires much empathy to understand the characters' actions and motivation. The wife uses the tree for comfort, while the daughter Simone uses the tree as a replacement for her father. Even though the portrayals of the family's internal world are excellent, "The Tree" still suffers from being too slow and too plain for an average viewer.