Terrence Malick’s latest film, The Tree of Life, found a surprising home with Fox Searchlights. The company known for distributing such light indie fare as Little Miss Sunshine and (500) Days of Summer will release the art house drama in 2011.
The Tree of Life, which features Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, follows Jack, the eldest of three brothers, through his loss of childhood innocence to a disillusioned adulthood through his quest to understand the meaning of life. Set in the Midwest in the 1950’s, the film is rumored to have fantasy and even science-fiction elements, though specific plot details are not being released to the press at this time.
While mum is the word on plot, producer Bill Pohlad has said, “Malick has given us another masterpiece that is both profoundly moving and stunningly beautiful. And there is no better partner than Fox Searchlight to bring this film to audiences. Their ability to distribute and market independent films with a passion and creativity is incredibly rare in our industry.”
Searchlight is known for its keen marketing strategies – the kind that got both Little Miss Sunshine and (500) Days of Summer seen by wide and mainstream audiences. While some are supposing this acquisition means Malick’s Tree will be less art house and more accessible than previously expected, I think it’s more an indication on where Searchlight is headed. Their site currently boasts the Duplass brothers’ Cyrus, Never Let Me Go, and Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan. Fox Searchlight brought mumblecore to the small town America with Cyrus, and now seem to be angling for art house audiences.
Stephen Gilula and Nancy Utley, presidents of Fox Searchlight, seem committed to The Tree of Life saying, “Terrence Malick has crafted a deeply moving, keenly observed and magisterial film.”
So keep an eye out, as The Tree of Life will (likely) be coming to a theater near you.
Are you game for The Tree of Life?