Fresh off writing the score to David Fincher’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (music that will likely earn him an Oscar nomination), film music composer Alexandre Desplat is being tapped to write the music for legendary cinema auteur Terrence Malick’s long-gestating project, “Tree of Life,” starring Brad Pitt.
Upcoming Film Scores confirms one thing that we already reported/asked aloud: Summit Entertainment is distributing the film, for a fall/winter 2009 release (Oscar-bait season, yo).
As previously noted, the film also stars Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain and it’s interesting to note that Heath Ledger was originally attached to star in the film, but he dropped out and Pitt took over. UFS says the story is a closely guarded one, but Summit have a rather lengthy “synopsis” already on their site (though it is admittedly vague; much like some of Malick’s ponderously wandering films ;).
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.
Framing this story is that of adult Jack, a lost soul in a modern world, seeking to discover amid the changing scenes of time that which does not change: the eternal scheme of which we are a part. When he sees all that has gone into our world’s preparation, each thing appears a miracle — precious, incomparable. Jack, with his new understanding, is able to forgive his father and take his first steps on the path of life.
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.
There is substantial talk that “Tree Of Life” will play Cannes 2009 in May.