Some say it's profound; others say pretentious. It divided critics, but when did anything good not divide opinion? The film is described as a story of family life against a cosmic backdrop. According to its writer-director Terrence Malick, "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."
The movie poster looks like it contains a ladder to the stars.
Mallick continues, "The story ends in hope, acknowledging the beauty and joy in all things, in the everyday and above all in the family—our first school—the only place that most of us learn the truth about the world and ourselves, or discover life’s single most important lesson, of unselfish love."
The trailer begins, "There are two ways through life: the way of nature, and the way of grace."
As the film hasn't been released yet, Slicer hasn't seen it - so he doesn't have an opinion on whether it's profound, pretentious, or something else entirely. But the subject matter seems right up his street, and clearly continues to fascinate artists. Oh, and he nearly forgot to mention it just scooped the top prize at Cannes...
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