THE SEA OF TREES
US, 2015, 110 minutes, Colour.
Matthew Mc Conaughey, Ken Watanabe, Naomi Watts.
Directed by Gus van Sant.
The Sea of Trees did not receive the distribution it might have expected, especially a film from a director like Gus van Sant. The film was even booed at the critics screening at the Cannes film Festival where van Sant had been honoured with many screenings and the Palme d’Or for Elephant.
Many ordinary viewers found the film too difficult. The found it slow-moving, puzzling in its narrative, finding it difficult to respond to the symbolism, especially the sea of trees, the forest in Japan where people went to commit suicide.
On the other hand, there are flashbacks from Japan to a rather ordinary life and a relationship between the central character, Arthur, played seriously by Matthew Mc Conaughey, and his wife Rose, a difficult relationship, especially because of her behaviour influenced by a growth. She is played by Naomi Watts.
However, the story of the past is told in flashbacks and is inserted into the journey/pilgrimage in the sea of trees. Arthur arrives from the US and travels to the forest in order to kill himself, taking some pills and having Google to find the perfect place to kill oneself. In searching for a place, he encounters a middle-aged Japanese man who is in some turmoil, looking to get out of the forest. When Arthur encounters him the second time, he helps him, the two travelling together, searching for a path out, continually talking, and Arthur gradually revealing his story to the man and to the audience through the flashbacks. They have a night talk at a camp. Arthur then discovers that the Japanese man is not well, has collapsed and goes in search for help. He himself falls down a cliff on the way and has to drag himself to the rangers in the forest for help.
No one can locate the Japanese man. After Arthur receives hospital treatment, he goes searching again, and finds a beautiful flower where they had had their conversation. He realises that the Japanese man was something of a spirit, a ghost, accompanying Arthur in his journey, dissuading him from death, assuring him that Rose, who is revealed had been killed in an accident, is continually with him. Arthur has two words in Japanese which are revealed to be yellow and winter. The manager at Rose’s funeral had heard her friends discussing her favourite colour, yellow, her favourite season, winter, and was able to reassure Arthur. Back home, discussing science with students, one of them who understands Japanese is able to tell him that the mysterious words from the Japanese man mean yellow and flower. He has a sense that Rose is with him.
The scenes in the forest are highly significant and mystical – and contrast with the ordinariness, sometimes mundane, if ultimately emotional of the flashbacks.
1. A narrative about average Americans? A journey in a Japanese forest? The theme of suicide? The intercutting of all these aspects?
2. The work of Gus van Sant, characters, moral dilemmas, life and death? The use of symbols?
3. The title, the visuals, the forest in Japan? The overviews? The trees, paths, the aspect of maze and labyrinth? Rocks, stairs, cliffs? The visual impact? The musical score? Googling to find the perfect place for suicide?
4. The focus on Arthur, Matthew Mc Conaughey a and his serious presence? At home in the US, the airport, his ticket, on the plane, self preoccupied? In the city, driving to the forest? His intention to kill himself?
5. The experience in the forest, his tablets, searching for a spot, seeing the Japanese man, guiding him to paths, re-encountering him, the anxiety of the man, sharing with him, the journey, the insertion of the flashbacks of his life, being frank with the man, being listened to? The journey through the forest, not finding the exit? Camping, the fire, the longer talk? Arthur and the varying attitudes towards Rose? Then not knowing her favourite season, her favourite colour? The Japanese man assuring him that Rose was present? Arthur’s disbelief?
6. The decline of the old man, Arthur and his going to get help, his falling down the cliff, the phone calls, dragging himself out, finding the authorities? His going to hospital, recovering, reassurance of the doctor, wanting to go back to the forest? The interviews with the official? No sign of the Japanese man?
7. Arthur’s story, in himself, age, experience, job, the relationship with Rose? The growing tensions, the outings, the discussions, her bluntness, his having to cope? The scenes at home, the difficulties? The breakdown of the relationship? The discovery of her illness, diagnosis, the growth? His change of heart, hopes for her recuperation? Her being transferred, the ambulance, the contact between the two, the phone call about seasons and favourite colours? Hopeful future?
8. The suddenness of the truck crashing into the ambulance? Shock, grief? The funeral, the number of people attending? Arthur sitting at the mortuary, beyond closing time, the sympathetic manager, the revelation of yellow and winter as Rose’s favourites?
9. Arthur and his finding the spot, the flower and its beauty, his taking it home, calm on the plane, the flower in his apartment?
10. Arthur, his return home, his loneliness? His work, the scientific discussions with students? Quiet and sudden revelation of the Japanese words and the student explaining: yellow, winter? And the touch of the mystical with the sense of Rose with him?
11. Audiences finding the film difficult, slow-moving, the narrative and storytelling, the use of symbols, the religious and mystical overtones, especially the Japanese man and Japanese belief in ghosts and presences?
