The Tree of Life

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The Tree of Life

2008

1h 16m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

48%

Tomatometer

23 Reviews

50%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

After the death of her father, a woman travels to Italy to trace his family tree.

Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

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.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 24, 2008

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Ella Taylor

L.A. Weekly

[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.

Oct 23, 2008

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Laura Kern

New York Times

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.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 12, 2008

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Nora Lee Mandel

Film-Forward.com

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.

Rated: 3/10

Nov 1, 2008

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Mark Keizer

Boxoffice Magazine

While Hava probably gained a lot from the experience of making The Tree of Life, the audience will gain demonstrably less.

Rated: 2.5/5

Sep 15, 2008

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Prairie Miller

NewsBlaze

Moments of uncommon creativity and poignancy, but often coming dangerously close to crossing the line between biopic and home movies.

Sep 7, 2008

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Audience Member

It's like watching the Discover Channel on mute, while someone whispers scripture in your ear. For 2 hours.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

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Hava Volterra

Director

David N. Donihue

Writer

Hava Volterra

Writer

Hava Volterra

Producer

Andrew Viterbi

Executive Producer

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Synopsis

After the death of her father, a woman travels to Italy to trace his family tree.

Director: Hava Volterra
Producer: Hava Volterra
Screenwriter: David N. Donihue, Hava Volterra
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 16m