As is widely acknowledged that Terrence Malick's cinematic vignettes could well be beyond the average level of comprehension, I decided to read some reviews before screening this film. In the process, I have found some pretty insightful and concrete analysis of what is called an inaccessible monologue. Among those, there was this one line that especially stood out: "A movie for a few with a theme for everybody (by the pseudonym Parry-3 posted on this IMDb)." This sentence was indeed an eye-catching punch line that in my opinion simply and yet brilliantly cracks the mystery of yet another complex but marvelous work of Malick's.
Like many pointed out, this movie focuses on love and faith while Malick's previous work, "the Tree of Life" zooms up the theme of creation and family. All of these themes are in actuality quite intimately blended in everyday lives of everyday people. However, once they go through the lens of Malick's cameras, they all of a sudden transform into mysteries. It is therefore totally understandable why a lot of film lovers find themselves bewildered and/or even annoyed by his films.
For this movie, I trust that such puzzles can be put together by connecting Father Quintana's homilies and unspoken prayers. Subtle hints about the truth of love and faith, which by the way go hand in hand, reveal in his deep and yet quiet voice. If/when this movie is approached on the basis of Christian theology, it may become more 'accessible.' For example, Malick seems to suggest here that true marriage - the fruition of romantic love between man and woman - is supposed to find its foundation from the biblical context as one of the holy sacraments in our journey to sanctity (Ephesians 5:21-33).
Broadly speaking, we see two ways of loving and living (vocations) here: Marriage and Priesthood. Either way, we are called to love. The latter is supposed to manifest divine love among as many souls as one can possibly reach out, whereas the former begins with human love, as is summed up in one of Fr. Quintana's homilies: "There is love that is like a stream that can go dry when rain no longer feeds it. But there is a love that is like a spring coming up from the earth. The first is human love, the second is divine love and has its source above."
As much as their agony may appear different at first glance, they – the wedded couple (Neil and Marina), and the priest (Fr. Quintana) – equally carry on struggles of each own in their respective journey of interior growth. Even though their paths to sanctity may vary, they all stumble by lacking the ultimate driving force: The love like a spring coming up from the source above. They show how challenging it could be to continue loving without such, as if a train out of fuel cannot run forth. For instance, Neil is a descent man but without a solid foundation about where he comes from and where he is heading eventually, and what for he is here on earth, he could not seem to nourish his family without failing. The point is, by and large that to love many or to love a few embraceable in one's two arms, we still need to take refuge to the same eternal spring.
And, love is not all about feelings. It takes commitment and running risks. However, without someone we can turn to whenever we fall – and we do fall all the time, it is such a scary business to every one of us. Perhaps what matters is not the track record of no failing but how to get up; as in living out any kind of callings (vocations), we deal with ups and downs, sometimes like riding a roller-costar.
All of these people meet at some place and some time, but in the end, their paths grow apart. There is one soul that still goes on with his ordinary duties regardless of a clear answer to his quest because he believes deep down that it will come to him in its own time; as he constantly asks, it will be given to him at some point in an utterly unexpected and yet reliable way. And, there is another still in the wilderness searching... All of these are the portraits of us all struggling to grow and to be better one day at a time. Given the context of this movie, in our lives, it is perhaps the wondering journey that counts more than some presentable accomplishment.
Without faith either in your beloved someone or in God, you cannot love. And from a Christian perspective, faith in both is needed for your own ultimate interior peace. It is all said throughout the movie, maybe between the lines. Whether take it or leave it is, needless to say, your choice.
Since each scene may deserve a chapter of a book, I have deliberately tried to avoid deep analysis of details. However, the following couple points, I believe, are worth mentioning: The many languages and diverse ethnic backgrounds exhibited in it seem to symbolize the universality of the subject: How to live loving. Referring to the message from the tower of Babel, they at the same time represent the communication barriers that stand between individuals and hinder the integrity in genuinely loving one another. Also, the sketches of sufferings and pains captured in variety may be meant to visualize the reality of life on earth, which in turn aim to highlight that humans therefore need the spring that sustains us, which is Love.
Love often troubles our lives, but also love is that pushes us forward on the occasions of doubts, and empowers us in weary moments and keeps our footing in times of turbulence. All in all, this cinematic poetry in my modest opinion is not only rich in imagery but also exquisite in symbolism.
Like many pointed out, this movie focuses on love and faith while Malick's previous work, "the Tree of Life" zooms up the theme of creation and family. All of these themes are in actuality quite intimately blended in everyday lives of everyday people. However, once they go through the lens of Malick's cameras, they all of a sudden transform into mysteries. It is therefore totally understandable why a lot of film lovers find themselves bewildered and/or even annoyed by his films.
For this movie, I trust that such puzzles can be put together by connecting Father Quintana's homilies and unspoken prayers. Subtle hints about the truth of love and faith, which by the way go hand in hand, reveal in his deep and yet quiet voice. If/when this movie is approached on the basis of Christian theology, it may become more 'accessible.' For example, Malick seems to suggest here that true marriage - the fruition of romantic love between man and woman - is supposed to find its foundation from the biblical context as one of the holy sacraments in our journey to sanctity (Ephesians 5:21-33).
Broadly speaking, we see two ways of loving and living (vocations) here: Marriage and Priesthood. Either way, we are called to love. The latter is supposed to manifest divine love among as many souls as one can possibly reach out, whereas the former begins with human love, as is summed up in one of Fr. Quintana's homilies: "There is love that is like a stream that can go dry when rain no longer feeds it. But there is a love that is like a spring coming up from the earth. The first is human love, the second is divine love and has its source above."
As much as their agony may appear different at first glance, they – the wedded couple (Neil and Marina), and the priest (Fr. Quintana) – equally carry on struggles of each own in their respective journey of interior growth. Even though their paths to sanctity may vary, they all stumble by lacking the ultimate driving force: The love like a spring coming up from the source above. They show how challenging it could be to continue loving without such, as if a train out of fuel cannot run forth. For instance, Neil is a descent man but without a solid foundation about where he comes from and where he is heading eventually, and what for he is here on earth, he could not seem to nourish his family without failing. The point is, by and large that to love many or to love a few embraceable in one's two arms, we still need to take refuge to the same eternal spring.
And, love is not all about feelings. It takes commitment and running risks. However, without someone we can turn to whenever we fall – and we do fall all the time, it is such a scary business to every one of us. Perhaps what matters is not the track record of no failing but how to get up; as in living out any kind of callings (vocations), we deal with ups and downs, sometimes like riding a roller-costar.
All of these people meet at some place and some time, but in the end, their paths grow apart. There is one soul that still goes on with his ordinary duties regardless of a clear answer to his quest because he believes deep down that it will come to him in its own time; as he constantly asks, it will be given to him at some point in an utterly unexpected and yet reliable way. And, there is another still in the wilderness searching... All of these are the portraits of us all struggling to grow and to be better one day at a time. Given the context of this movie, in our lives, it is perhaps the wondering journey that counts more than some presentable accomplishment.
Without faith either in your beloved someone or in God, you cannot love. And from a Christian perspective, faith in both is needed for your own ultimate interior peace. It is all said throughout the movie, maybe between the lines. Whether take it or leave it is, needless to say, your choice.
Since each scene may deserve a chapter of a book, I have deliberately tried to avoid deep analysis of details. However, the following couple points, I believe, are worth mentioning: The many languages and diverse ethnic backgrounds exhibited in it seem to symbolize the universality of the subject: How to live loving. Referring to the message from the tower of Babel, they at the same time represent the communication barriers that stand between individuals and hinder the integrity in genuinely loving one another. Also, the sketches of sufferings and pains captured in variety may be meant to visualize the reality of life on earth, which in turn aim to highlight that humans therefore need the spring that sustains us, which is Love.
Love often troubles our lives, but also love is that pushes us forward on the occasions of doubts, and empowers us in weary moments and keeps our footing in times of turbulence. All in all, this cinematic poetry in my modest opinion is not only rich in imagery but also exquisite in symbolism.
Tell Your Friends