Vivid animation, illustrations and puppetry lighten up interviews and elementary reflections on a personal history of Jews in Italy, better left to a family reunion.
The Tree of Life (2008)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:7
Fresh:3
Rotten:4
Average Rating:5.1/10
Theatrical Release:Oct 24, 2008 Limited
Synopsis:
A woman from Los Angeles tries to come to terms with her father's death by traveling to Italy, the land of his birth, to trace the roots of his family tree.
With the help of her feisty 82 year...
A woman from Los Angeles tries to come to terms with her father's death by traveling to Italy, the land of his birth, to trace the roots of his family tree.
With the help of her feisty 82 year old aunt, her father’s sister, she travels relentlessly from city to city, digging through ancient manuscripts and interviewing a wide range of quirky scholars, to piece together the fascinating story of her Italian Jewish ancestors.
As the woman continues her journey, her aunt begins to come to terms with her own past, and plans a journey to find and thank the family who hid her and the woman's father during WWII.
Using both Monty Python-style animation and computer enhanced marionettes, the film tells the story of Jewish money lenders, mystics, scientists and politicians, while reflecting on how our parents and their roots affect our sense of belonging, identity, and self worth.
Both utterly hilarious and emotionally gripping , The Tree Of Life is a fresh look at history in the most immediate of ways.
--© Official Site
Starring: Hava Volterra, Viviana Volterra Gerner
Starring: Hava Volterra, Viviana Volterra Gerner
Director: Hava Volterra
Director: Hava Volterra
Studio: Interim CEO Films
Reviews for The Tree of Life
It's a sympathetic notion, to be sure, but it leaves one feeling you're on the couch with Volterra, not on a roots quest.
[Volterra's] affinity for Italian stereotypes is countered with delightful truculence by the film’s most engaging character, her down-to-earth octogenarian aunt Viviana.
While Hava probably gained a lot from the experience of making The Tree of Life, the audience will gain demonstrably less.
Ms. Volterra, acting as narrator and interviewee herself, can't seem to resist the urge to be the star of her own film, which too often feels like a wearisome exercise in self-therapy.
It's clear why Volterra would have felt driven to make such a film. It's less clear why anyone not related to her would pay to see it.
Moments of uncommon creativity and poignancy, but often coming dangerously close to crossing the line between biopic and home movies.
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