It is not easy to understand "The Tree of Life". Although the director clearly told us that the theme he wants to express is: the only way to be happy is to love, but it takes a long process to understand it. . Just like the length of the film, which is 3 hours and 8 minutes, it is as obstructive and long!
The film begins with two verses from the Book of Job. To understand these two verses, we must first understand what kind of story the Book of Job tells. Job was a perfect man in the eyes of God, fearing God and shunning evil. But God allowed Satan to bring disaster on him, taking away all his property and the lives of his children, and adding sickness to him. Job was in so much pain that he couldn't understand why his devout beliefs suffered so much, and why did God treat him like this. He questioned God, and God appeared in a whirlwind and said to him, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? If you are wise, just say it! If you know, say, Who determines the measure of the earth? Who pulled the yardstick on it? Where was the foundation of the earth? Who placed the cornerstone of the earth? At that time, the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God cheered." God did not directly answer Job's question , but the miraculous process of His creation of the heavens and the earth. This is almost completely parallel to the story told in the film. The parents in the film, both devout believers, lost their second son to an unspecified calamity, while the father's career was hampered and he lost his job. Both were in heavy pain and, like Job, did not understand why God did this! The mother asked, "Why? Where were you then? Do you know? What are we to you? Answer me." At this time, the director pushed the camera into darkness, and in the darkness there was light slowly appeared. God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God sees that light is good, and separates light from darkness. With the change of the rotation of light, stars were born, the earth was born, mountains and rivers appeared, and life followed. The jellyfish vibrated her dress, the water plants fluttered her long hair; the wonderful creatures danced in the water; the waves kissed the beach, the dinosaurs looked back to the sunset; the blood was flowing, the embryos were beating; Along the gurgling stream, life grows and life dies. This world is so beautiful and spectacular, fantastic and mysterious! We are really small in front of him, we can only sigh and praise. What qualifications do we have to question the Almighty Creator! He gave us this wonderful world with his love and power, let the miracle of life happen in our body, and let us enjoy the light and warmth. How can we question him in the face of this sudden suffering? Of course, there will be doubts about that. This is actually a matter of border order. Human behavior has boundaries, and human rationality also has boundaries. We cannot understand the transcendent, and we cannot break through the limitations of man. That is to say, it is impossible for us to move forward all the time to cross the boundary between man and God. God is loving and just, and God’s arrangements must have profound meanings, but we cannot fully understand and accept God’s good intentions. Furthermore, when we ask "Why me?", have we ever thought about a question, if this suffering happens to someone else's life, will we ask "Why not me?" "Why him?" ? So why do we think it's unfair that this happened to us? Is it fair that it happens to someone else? Aren't we also "others" in the eyes of others? Also, we think this way because inwardly we always think that we are better than others. When others suffer, we must think, this must be what he did wrong, what injustice he did to be punished. How does this differ from how others see us? This is typical self-righteousness, oneself considers oneself a good person, oneself a gentleman, and others are villains. The problem is that others think so too! We are the same as others, and we are all sinful people in our beliefs. The reason why we can still live in this beautiful world, with life, family, health, and happiness, is entirely out of the grace of God . This is also the path of grace chosen by the mother in the film. On this path, we need to endure being despised, forgotten, rejected, insulted, and hurt, but we still have love, and we still have to thank and praise God. Because only God can help us and lead us through the valley of death and on the right path. Also, we think this way because inwardly we always think that we are better than others. When others suffer, we must think, this must be what he did wrong, what injustice he did to be punished. How does this differ from how others see us? This is typical self-righteousness, oneself considers oneself a good person, oneself a gentleman, and others are villains. The problem is that others think so too! We are the same as others, and we are all sinful people in our beliefs. The reason why we can still live in this beautiful world, with life, family, health, and happiness, is entirely out of the grace of God . This is also the path of grace chosen by the mother in the film. On this path, we need to endure being despised, forgotten, rejected, insulted, and hurt, but we still have love, and we still have to thank and praise God. Because only God can help us and lead us through the valley of death and on the right path. Also, we think this way because inwardly we always think that we are better than others. When others suffer, we must think, this must be what he did wrong, what injustice he did to be punished. How does this differ from how others see us? This is typical self-righteousness, oneself considers oneself a good person, oneself a gentleman, and others are villains. The problem is that others think so too! We are the same as others, and we are all sinful people in our beliefs. The reason why we can still live in this beautiful world, with life, family, health, and happiness, is entirely out of the grace of God . This is also the path of grace chosen by the mother in the film. On this path, we need to endure being despised, forgotten, rejected, insulted, and hurt, but we still have love, and we still have to thank and praise God. Because only God can help us and lead us through the valley of death and on the right path.
Death comes from sin. Adam and Eve stole the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and God said, "For in the day you eat it you will surely die." Then death came to mankind. Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden. "And on the east side of the Garden of Eden they installed cherubim and a flaming sword, to guard the way of the tree of life." At this point, man has lost the possibility of eternal life by himself, and death will take hold of the earth. With power, all are shrouded in the power of death. We fear death, because death takes away everything we love, and because we love this world, we forget the world after death, the world of immortality. This is also the reason why the eyes turn to the trees many times in this film, always looking up at the trees, staring at the trees. The tree of life represents eternal life, and looking up is the hope for eternal life. But the way to the tree of life has been blocked by angels (cherubim) and a flaming sword, how can we lead to eternal life? What about returning to the Garden of Eden? only love! Love is the only way to overcome suffering, to overcome the power of death. Only after going through the trials of fire and sword, can you still hold on to love and keep on loving, can you gain peace and joy, and can you pass through the narrow gate leading to the kingdom of heaven!
After watching "Journey of Time", I found that "The Tree of Life" is equivalent to the home version of "Journey of Time", or "The Tree of Life" can be called "Journey of Life". Terrence Malik faithfully reproduces the entire journey of life: from the beginning, the earth is empty and chaotic, the dark face of the deep to the sun-drenched world of light, life grows and flourishes, and then passes through the narrow gate of heaven, a A complete life journey. And throughout this whole journey is love! what is love? Love is life, love is truth, love is the light of this world, and love is God!
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