Terrence Malick, The Tree Of Life

Tantalizing first look at Brad Pitt in Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life. The family tableau is official; the house on the right is an on location shot from flickr. Summit Entertainment description:

Our picture is a cosmic epic, a hymn to life.

We trace the evolution of an eleven-year-old boy in the Midwest, Jack, one of three brothers. At first all seems marvelous to the child. He sees as his mother does, with the eyes of his soul. She represents the way of love and mercy, where the father tries to teach his son the world’s way, of putting oneself first. Each parent contends for his allegiance, and Jack must reconcile their claims. The picture darkens as he has his first glimpses of sickness, suffering and death. The world, once a thing of glory, becomes a labyrinth.

(continued, with a bonus anecdote from an extra on the set)

Framing this story is that of adult Jack, a lost soul in a modern world, seeking to discover amid the changing scenes of time that which does not change: the eternal scheme of which we are a part. When he sees all that has gone into our world’s preparation, each thing appears a miracle ‚Äî precious, incomparable. Jack, with his new understanding, is able to forgive his father and take his first steps on the path of life.

The story ends in hope, acknowledging the beauty and joy in all things, in the everyday and above all in the family — our first school — the only place that most of us learn the truth about the world and ourselves, or discover life’s single most important lesson, of unselfish love.

And this (via IMDb), from a pregnant mom who’s apparently featured as a body-double in the film:

Here are comments from an extra from TX who got to shoot a scene with Pitt. At the end she writes that Pitt was in 1940’s military uniform:

“Saturday she called me to tell me that they cast me in the part! Yay, I thought … assuming that they would have shots of my pregnant belly as the “stand in” for the actress. I have been hearing rumors about who was cast in the movie, but didn’t think they were slated to start shooting until March.

My shot was today – I arrived in Smithville at 9:30 am, filled out some paperwork, and ate a danish. They drove me to the set in a van and the Producer went over the shot with me. I wore my lowest pants so that they wouldn’t have to be removed to get a full belly shot … and he said just holding up my shirt to the bra line was fine – so no wardrobe was needed. He went over what the shot entailed ~ the “actor” would be caressing my stomach, putting his head on my stomach, and possibly kissing it ~ and wanted to know if I would be okay with that. I said “SURE” … whatever … I wasn’t uptight about any of that (plus I think I look pretty good for a giant preggers and have no shame in baring it all). He then said, “um, do you know who the “actor” is? I said no. He said……. “it’s Brad. BRAD PITT.”

“FREAKIN’ BRAD PITT WAS THE FATHER OF MY UNBORN BABY TODAY!!!!! He rubbed my belly, pressed his face to my belly, stared tenderly at my belly, and when Griffin kicked the crap out of him, smiled HUGELY and said “that’s so beautiful”. BRAD PITT THINKS IM BEAUTIFUL. Oh my God, I cannot stop smiling. I’m just on Cloud 9. Can you believe??????????????????????????????????????????? He spent 20 minutes about an inch away from all my sexual organs, lovingly rubbing my unborn child. Talk about a perfect day. ”

“And for your Brad Pitt Fix today: Did I mention that he was in full Military Blues Uniform????? It was supposed to be the 1940’s and he was all decked out in uniform with that Robert Redford haircut, clean shaven (SOFT FACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and totally nice.”

Too much information?