The Tree (I) (2010)

After the death of her father, an 8-year-old girl becomes convinced that he is whispering to her through the leaves of the gargantuan tree that towers over her house.

Director:

Julie Bertuccelli

Writers:

Judy Pascoe (novel), Julie Bertuccelli,

Stars:

Charlotte Gainsbourg, Morgana Davies, Marton Csokas

1 win & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charlotte Gainsbourg	...	Dawn O'Neil
Morgana Davies	...	Simone O'Neil
Marton Csokas	...	George Elrick
Christian Byers	...	Tim O'Neil
Tom Russell	...	Lou O'Neil
Gabriel Gotting	...	Charlie O'Neil
Aden Young	...	Peter O'Neil
Penne Hackforth-Jones	...	Mrs. Johnson
Gillian Jones	...	Vonnie
Zoe Boe	...	Megan Lu
Bob MacKay	...	Ab
Ryan Potter	...	Tree Lopper
Murray Shoring	...	Council Inspector
Taren Stewart	...	Lou's friend
Robert Joseph Stewart	...	Lou's friend

Storyline

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...

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Plot Keywords:

house | tree | countryside | death | children | 

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Taglines:

Life is a force of nature

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Blog Official Facebook

Country:

France Australia Germany Italy

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 August 2010 (France)

Also Known As:

A Árvore

Filming Locations:

Boonah, Queensland, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

€7,740,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$4,983 (USA) (15 July 2011)

Gross:

$69,236 (USA) (4 November 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films du Poisson, Taylor Media, Screen Australia

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

About two hundred little girls were auditioned for Simone's role and a thousand fig trees were visited before the perfect one was found.

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Crazy Credits

"No animals or trees were harmed while filming"

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Connections

Featured in Estrenos Críticos: 03/06/2011 (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Weak"
by Asaf Avidan & The Mojos

User Reviews

a moving and serene examination of grief, greatly acted

The universal theme of suffering after the abrupt death of a dear one, with the necessity for those who remain to go on with life, is here presented in a very serene way. No melodrama, no anxiety, no exaggeration in sensitivity, but solid realism, with a touch of the magic of this tree, heart of the family and of the movie. It's a movie which follows the pace and the inner development of the single characters, mainly of Dawn, the mother, and Simone, the daughter, both wonderfully interpreted by a high-talented Charlotte Gainsbourg, and by a surprisingly mature little girl. It's a movie about the need to go on, to accept the strokes of life with the force and dignity that, let me say it, sometimes only women have, with no sentimentalism, no pathetic indulgence, but with sober realism and a strong feeling for human courage. Another movie that unfortunately will not reach the great distribution, but we know that the phantasmagoric magic of Harry Potter attracts more public and brings more money than the humble magic of a fig tree. However, a truly valid picture.