Cinema: The Tree by Julie Bertuccelli

The Tree is the second film by Julie Bertuccelli, presented at the closing of the Cannes Film Festival. This lovely tale is performed by Charlotte Gainsbourg, surrounded by an excellent cast of children.
The Tree charms with its touching story and especially its landscapes, which allow for truly magnificent shots. The storyline of the film is somewhat monotonous and ultimately lacks momentum, especially towards the end.
It is a dreamlike film in which the director wants to tackle an essential theme: the life of those who remain after the death of someone dear to them and each person’s adaptation to their new living conditions.
In the end, it is rather the young actors and actresses (particularly little Simone) who set the tone for the film, while Charlotte Gainsbourg fails to move beyond a performance that is correct but static.
From this film, what will remain with us is the underlying reflection, which is also its main quality: the different relationship each person has with an event that changes our lives and the way to respond to it, either by moving beyond or by clinging to the past and recalling it in our dreams.