Fr. Barron comments on Terrence Malick's "Tree of Life" (SPOILERS)

Another part of a video series from Wordonfire.org. Father Barron will be commenting on subjects from modern day culture. For more visit http://www.wordonfire.org/

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[red novak]

Such a lot of topics to talk about and he is talking only about the basics...

[wordonfirevideo]

So sorry. I'll leave the sophisticated work to you!

[Blunders1000]

I'm an atheist myself but this film is one of my all time favourites.

It's crafted so well and the spectacle is so awe inspiring that I'm happy for Malick to put his faith up on screen and I absolutely loved this film.

And this is a very nice analysis of it

[andrew5500]

While I am an atheist, I really liked this guy's analysis. Very open and clear.

[BloggerMusicMan]

I don't mean to sound sychophantic, but that line of sarcasm made me chuckle.

[Theo Fane]

My own mother and father were like Grace and Nature when I was growing up. I think they counterbalanced each other pretty well in my own experience of being a kid.

[vdizhoor]

By "Earthly life", I think I meant "Worldly/Materialistic life", the one centered on desiring stuff. A childish life, as oppsoed to one embracing intangible lasting ideals and purposes. As fars as the stuff you are refering to from Apocalypsis - well, I am not sure most Christians hold to those escatalogical tenants as central in their views. At least in practice. :)

Anyway, they are not identical, of course, but they are very similar. There are monks, prayers, idalization of a teacher, etc.

[Nicholas Benson]

vdizhoor, you're wrong when you say "both religions focus on escape from Earthly life" -- Christianity does not do this- it sets earthly life in its proper context, not denying desires, but handling them responsibly. Besides, the final vision that we Christians have in Scripture is of a New Jerusalem that comes out of heaven down ONTO EARTH! Christianity is NOT . escapism- it is proverbial- in that it doesn't deny what God has offered, it just advocates handling life with wisdom (in Spirit)

[Derek C]

In Malick's terms, I think it is a mistake to think of "nature" as violent or hard edged, and "grace" as kind and gentle. I believe he presents nature as an indifferent quest for survival, or better put, the endless pursuit of one's own interests. This is what the father lives and teaches his sons. He and nature may appear violent, but are only self interested and narrow. "Grace" could be better seen as a kind of expansion beyond one's own interests and a connection to all of life and existence.

[Trevor Kwong]

I'm cautious to accept any kind of film analysis in fear of it crushing the work's grand emotions into words, but this is a very poetic, clear explanation of the film. I think this is the kind of articulate open-minded man who should be a spokesman for Catholicism.

[brmbolec2]

and a lot of the interpretation is almost taoist, or zen-like, i like :)

[brmbolec2]

a priest that is able to laugh at himself, respect! :) (an i'm an atheist)

[Yolanda Jones]

I appreciate this analysis, I just don't think the film is quite as dualistic as Fr. Barron suggests. Jessica Chastain's monologue at the beginning of the film makes an argument which Malick debunks throughout, namely that there are only two paths we can choose: nature vs. grace and that "no one who chooses the way of grace will ever come to a bad end." I would also suggest in the spirit of the book of Job, Chastain's final words in the film are not submissive but spoken out of loving surrender.