The Tree (2010)
The O'Neills lived happily in their house in the Australian countryside. That was until one day fate struck blindly, taking the life of Peter, the father, leaving his grief-stricken wife Dawn alone with their four children. Among them, eight-year-old Simone denies this reality. She is persuaded that her father still lives in the giant fig tree growing near their house and speaks to her through its leaves. But the tree becomes more and more invasive and threatens the house. It must be felled. Of course, Simone won't allow it.
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Peter O'Neil dies suddenly in front of his family. His wife Dawn (Charlotte Gainsbourg) is devastated and she's left with four kids to care for in the outbacks of Australia. The girl Simone starts talking to the giant tree next to their home. Its roots are getting into the pipe and a giant branch crashes into the home. She gets a job at the plumbing supply store and starts a relationship with owner George. Her neighbors want her to cut down the tree before the roots get into their pipes. Simone defends the tree against George claiming to hear her father.This is a slower, meandering story like a tree slowly strangling the house. It has a dreamy feel. Some of it looks beautiful but some of it gently rocks the audience to sleep. It has some appeal but mostly, it's a low intensity tale. The neighbors could have given more tension. In the end, the storm is a convenient way to blow all the story branches away.
Reviews about this film being "universal", about "love and loss", well, they half touch a point, but pretty bland, unimaginative and nothing profound whatsoever. Another had a title such as 'Australian Nature' - good title, but the review said NOTHING of interest, expanding on that. This French woman has done the marvellous work of seeing very deeply into Australia's soul. Maybe as only a foreigner could. As Australia is rightly coined, "The country with Apartheid, but without the name", don't expect an Australian to give credit to a foreigner . . . . . . . . ..................... for understanding their land, better than most Australian's understand it.Yes, Australia is an extremely tough land. Extremely dry one season, then flooding areas the size of Europe the next. Nature is Australia's wonder and speciality, not really the post-British, neo-Yankee, people. Don't get me wrong, the film shines a positive light on Australians. Trust on them in the hard times, but beware in the good (times). If I'm wrong, (just watch the difficulty of anyone liking this review, particularly parochial Aussies), don't blame me - is the "tall poppy syndrome" a fallacy!? I didn't invent the idea! But more than my personal feelings and reactions to the film; the film maker has brought a unique touch to themes and a story that could be otherwise bland. Just when you thought you were going to experience a purely emotional adventure, bang, a better than "Tornado", people against nature ACTION opens up before you: The Death vs The Tree (it's roots and life force being a symbol of us, dead and alive - hanging on - too much?) vs The Family vs The Climate, (ie. mother nature, we mostly abandon or disrespect her, even, or especially, "country folk"). Re: cuntry folk - live on the land WITHOUT making profit from it, THEN tell me what city people don't understand or give credit to. I LOVE The Country. PS. last cute point - when the girl sees the jellyfish, does that represent potential danger? It's funny when you meet a foreigner who knows about the danger of swimming in Australia, quite unlike a majority of the rest of the world - even where there are safety nets, deadly stingers can get through... Who knows the world knows that ALWAYS people are saying "BEWARE" even when the REAL danger is non-existent, more chance of being hit by a car or lightning. Whereas in OZ, many times, it's the opposite, danger, danger, everywhere, and struggle - look for the parallel in the people too :)
An old rule about the supernatural in movies is that they have to be scary. If they're not, there's always a risk the audience gets sleepy or even laughs at the wrong sensitive moments.That's however not really the problem here. A family father dies from a heart attack, but his spirit moves into a tree, standing in the yard. His daughter can still speak to him and so can his widow, as usual a good performance from Charlotte Gainsbourg.The conflict arises when the widow finds a new man. That would have been more interesting, if the tree was left out and we instead could follow the jealousy and feelings of betrayal from her children. This is not bad, but the focus is maybe on wrong things.
After the sudden death of her husband, his wife and four children try to get on with life in the bush of Northern Australia. It could be a story overwhelmed by emotion, but yet it play the emotionally side with more subtlety. The family live in an old house with an enormous Morton Bay fig next to it and it's this tree that firstly with the young daughter and then with other family members where they gain the idea that somehow the spirit of their loved one is inside. The film follows the family as they move on, but without forgetting the tree and protecting it at all costs.Thought the film has a potentially supernatural idea, it doesn't play out that way, in fact it's quite the opposite. The notion that the tree contains the spirit is quite charming and leads to some wonderful encounters for various members of the family. Grief is dealt with in many ways and for these people this is how they deal with it. The cast is very fine: Charlotte Gainsbourg is very good as the mother, she is charismatic and a joy to watch. As is the daughter Simone, played wonderfully by a superb young actor, she really is something, creating a funny, touching and realistic portrayal of a young girl who is dealing with the loss of her Dad. But all the cast is fine creating a truly real feeling to events that occur.The film also works for it's use of nature. Australian films set outside the city are known for their great use of the landscape and this is no exception. Stunning landscapes and skyscapes fill the screen and there are other wonderful moments including natures creations, such as the fruit bat that flies into the kitchen or the frogs in the toilet and the families attempts to get rid of them. And let's not forget the tree. It is a huge presence in the film, literally and metaphorically and could in it's own way be a character, it is a imposing, glorious and wonderful creation and of course paramount to the story.The film ends with a bang, but a positive one, a situation that leaves the family or gives the family a chance to move on, it is almost a relief and at the same time quite touching. The film as a whole is a highly enjoyable one, and that doesn't tug on the heart strings with it's story, instead presenting itself with humour, charm and beauty.Find more of my reviews at my site iheartfilms.weebly.com