The Sea of Trees

About The Sea of Trees

The Sea of Trees is a 2015 American drama mystery film, directed by Gus Van Sant, and written by Chris Sparling. The film explores profound themes of life, death, and the redemptive power of love. The narrative follows Arthur Brennan (Matthew McConaughey), an American professor who travels to the "Suicide Forest" (Aokigahara forest) in Japan to commit suicide following the death of his wife, Joan (Naomi Watts), from a terminal illness. Instead of taking his life, he meets a Japanese man named Takumi Nakamura (Ken Watanabe), a man lost in the forest. Their subsequent journey of survival and self-discovery forms the crux of the movie.

Making/Production

The film was shot in Massachusetts, United States and Japan. It is a geographical paradox where, despite being filmed in two culturally different places, the seamless integration makes the narrative feel quite organic. The film features some beautiful scenic shots, adding a significant aesthetic appeal.

Actors

• Matthew McConaughey as Arthur Brennan: An American professor suffering from immense grief over the terminal illness of his wife. His portrayal of a man grappling with guilt, pain and hope is deeply poignant.
• Ken Watanabe as Takumi Nakamura: He delivers an intense performance as a lost man in the forest. He strikes a deep camaraderie with Brennan, thereby forming one of the film's most potent dynamics.
• Naomi Watts as Joan Brennan: She is the deceased wife of Arthur, appearing in multiple flashback scenes. Watts provides a fine balance of vulnerability and strength in her heart-rending portrayal of a woman battling a terminal illness.

Trivia/Interesting Facts

• The Sea of Trees initially received negative reviews when it premiered at Cannes Film Festival but was later appreciated by audiences for its profound themes when it was broadly released.
• Aokigahara, the forest depicted in the film, is a real place in Japan and is infamously known as the "Suicide Forest".

Quotes

• "Who said anything about dying easy?" - Arthur Brennan
• "The intense feeling of life slipping through fingers, of time itself bleeding away... I find it intoxicating." - Takumi Nakamura

Music, Soundtrack

• "The Sea Of Trees" composed by Mason Bates and featuring the voice of Svetla Vassileva.
• "Gravity (feat.Monika Santucci)" by Venza, is the principle theme song and its haunting melody underscores the movie’s melancholic atmosphere perfectly.