Films About Trees: A General Description
Films about trees often explore the profound connection between humans and nature, highlighting themes of growth, resilience, and the environment. These films can range from animated features that personify trees to documentaries that delve into the ecological significance of forests. Trees serve as powerful symbols in cinema, representing life, shelter, wisdom, and sometimes even the passage of time. Through various genres, filmmakers have captured the beauty, fragility, and importance of trees, prompting audiences to reflect on their relationship with the natural world.
List of Films About Trees
“The Giving Tree”, 2000
Director: Cameron Thor
A short animated film based on Shel Silverstein's beloved children's book, it tells the story of a tree that selflessly gives everything to a boy throughout his life, exploring themes of unconditional love and sacrifice.
Starring: Christina Applegate, Justin Lazard, Johnathon Schaech, Moon Unit Zappa, Molly Ringwald, Tiffany Salerno, Leslie Horan, Kate Luyben, James C. Victor, Brad Harrison, Stephen Lisk, Paul Gleason, Judee Morton, Joel West, Alan Marshall, Gina Salerno, Tim Puntillo, Jennifer Daly, Nancy Fish, Greg Lee, Jock MacDonald, Harold Green, Scott Carr, Cheney Ray, Heidi Annalisa Kieppinski;
Production year: 2000;
Genre: thriller, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 89 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 3,9;
“A Tree Grows in Brooklyn”, 1945
Director: Elia Kazan
This classic film, based on Betty Smith's novel, follows the struggles of a young girl and her impoverished family in early 20th century Brooklyn, with the tree symbolizing hope and resilience amidst adversity.
Starring: Dorothy McGuire, Joan Blondell, James Dunn, Lloyd Nolan, James Gleason, Ted Donaldson, Peggy Ann Garner, Ruth Nelson, John Alexander, B.S. Pully, Robert Anderson, Jessie Arnold, John Berkes, Linda Bieber, Wyrley Birch, Ferike Boros, Al Bridge, Virginia Brissac, Lillian Bronson, Sally Ann Brown, Sheila Brown, Boots Brown, Bobby Burns, George M. Carleton, Jack Carr, James B. Carson, Alec Craig, Peter Cusanelli, Adeline De Walt Reynolds, Harry Denny, Joy Duguay, Al Eben, Fernanda Eliscu, Edythe Elliott, Robert Ferrero, Elvin Field, Norman Field, Jean Fowler, Paul Graeff, Vincent Graeff, Joseph J. Greene, Irving Gump, Edith Hallor, Ethyl May Halls, Charles Halton, Mary Lou Harrington, Harry Harvey Jr., Paul Hilton, Janice Hood, Teddy Infuhr;
Production year: 1945;
Genre: drama, melodrama, family;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 129 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8;
More information about the film “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” on the website imdb.com
“Avatar”, 2009
Director: James Cameron
In this groundbreaking sci-fi film, the majestic Tree of Souls plays a crucial role in the lives of the Na'vi people, representing their spiritual connection to nature and the ongoing struggle against environmental destruction.
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel Moore, CCH Pounder, Wes Studi, Laz Alonso, Dileep Rao, Matt Gerald, Sean Anthony Moran, Jason Whyte, Scott Lawrence, Kelly Kilgour, James Patrick Pitt, Sean Patrick Murphy, Peter Dillon, Kevin Dorman, Kelson Henderson, David Van Horn, Jacob Tomuri, Michael Blain-Rozgay, Jon Curry, Julene Renee, Luke Hawker, Woody Schultz, Peter Mensah, Sonia Yee, Jahnel Curfman, Ilram Choi, Kyla Warren, Lisa Roumain, Debra Wilson, Taylor Kibby, Jodie Landau, Chris Mala, Julie Lamm, Cullen B. Madden, Joseph Brady Madden, Frankie Torres, Austin Wilson, Sara Wilson, Tamica Washington-Miller, Lucy Briant, Nathan Meister, Gerry Blair, Matthew Chamberlain, Paul Yates;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: science fiction, action, drama, adventure;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 162 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
More information about the film “Avatar” on the website imdb.com
“The Lorax”, 2012
Director: Chris Renaud, Kyle Balda
An animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss's classic tale, this film tells the story of the Lorax, a creature who speaks for the trees, emphasizing the importance of environmental conservation and the consequences of industrialization.
Starring: Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Betty White, Rob Riggle, Jenny Slate, Nasim Pedrad, Joel Swetow, Michael Beattie, Dave Mitchell, Dempsey Pappion, Elmarie Wendel, Danny Cooksey, Stephen Tobolowsky, Jack Angel, Bob Bergen, John Cygan, Debi Derryberry, Bill Farmer, Jess Harnell, Sherry Lynn, Danny Mann, Mona Marshall, Mickie McGowan, Laraine Newman, Jan Rabson, Claira Nicole Titman, Jim Ward, Beth Andersen, Randy Crenshaw, Monique Donnelly, Missi Hale, Edie Lehmann Boddicker, Dan Navarro, Oliver Powell, Fletcher Sheridan, Antonio Sol, Ty Taylor;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: animation, musical, fantasy, drama, comedy, adventure, family;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 86 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,4;
More information about the film “The Lorax” on the website imdb.com
“Into the Forest”, 2015
Director: Patricia Rozema
A post-apocalyptic drama about two sisters who must survive in their family home as society collapses around them, the forest becomes both a refuge and a source of challenges, highlighting the duality of nature's beauty and peril.
Starring: Elliot Page, Evan Rachel Wood, Max Minghella, Callum Keith Rennie, Michael Eklund, Wendy Crewson, Ronin Cara, Owen Cara, Crystal Pite, Lorne Cardinal, Katherine Cowie, Sandy Sidhu, Bethany Brown, Jordana Largy, Simon Longmore, Brittany Willacy;
Production year: 2015;
Genre: thriller, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 101 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,8;
More information about the film “Into the Forest” on the website imdb.com
“The Secret of Kells”, 2008
Director: Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey
This animated fantasy film features a young boy in a remote abbey who must protect a magical book and the forest that surrounds him, emphasizing the mystical relationship between art, nature, and spirituality.
Starring: Evan McGuire, Christen Mooney, Brendan Gleeson, Mick Lally, Liam Hourican, Paul Tylack, Michael McGrath, Paul Young, Nora Twomey, Alli McCann, Clair Funchion, Conor O'Halloran, Gaelle Hersent, Marie Thorhauge, Sean Lennon, Jonas Till Hoffmann, James O'Halloran, Fabian Erlinghauser, Kairen Waloch;
Production year: 2008;
Genre: animation, fantasy, adventure, family;
Age: 6+;
Duration: 71 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
“The Tree of Life”, 2010
Director: Terrence Malick
A visually stunning and philosophical film that explores existential questions through the lens of a family’s life in Texas, juxtaposed with the origins of the universe, where trees symbolize both life and the passage of time.
Starring: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain, Hunter McCracken, Laramie Eppler, Tye Sheridan, Fiona Shaw, Jessica Fuselier, Nicolas Gonda, Will Wallace, Kelly Koonce, Bryce Boudoin, Jimmy Donaldson, Kameron Vaughn, Cole Cockburn, Dustin Allen, Brayden Whisenhunt, Joanna Going, Irene Bedard, Finnegan Williams, Michael Koeth, John Howell, Samantha Martinez, Savannah Welch, Tamara Jolaine, Julia M. Smith, Anne Nabors, Christopher Ryan, Tyler Thomas, Michael Showers, Kim Whalen, Margaret Hoard, Wally Welch, Hudson Lee Long, Michael Dixon, William Hardy, Tommy Hollis, Cooper Franklin Sutherland, John Cyrier, Erma Lee Alexander, Nicholas Yedinak, Erinn Allison, Mary Anzalone, Charlotte Biggs, Benjamin Dane, Michael E. Harvey, Matt Hislope, Jackson Hurst, Zach Irsik, Scottie Jefferies;
Production year: 2010;
Genre: fantasy, drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 139 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,8;
More information about the film “The Tree of Life” on the website imdb.com
“Winnie the Pooh”, 2011
Director: Stephen J. Anderson, Don Hall
This charming animated film features the Hundred Acre Wood, where Pooh and his friends embark on various adventures, with the trees serving as a whimsical backdrop for their friendships and escapades.
Starring: John Cleese, Jim Cummings, Bud Luckey, Craig Ferguson, Jack Boulter, Travis Oates, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Wyatt Dean Hall, Tom Kenny, Huell Howser;
Production year: 2011;
Genre: animation, musical, fantasy, drama, comedy, adventure, family;
MPAA rating: g;
Duration: 63 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
More information about the film “Winnie the Pooh” on the website imdb.com
These films not only celebrate the beauty of trees but also encourage audiences to appreciate and protect the natural world around them.
“Films about trees have proven to be a captivating exploration of nature's profound symbolism and the human connection to the environment. From the majestic redwoods of the Pacific Northwest to the ancient oaks of Europe, these films have artfully depicted the resilience and beauty of trees, often serving as a poignant metaphor for the human experience. Whether portrayed as a source of solace and healing, or as a backdrop for extraordinary tales of adventure, the cinematic portrayal of trees has left an indelible mark on audiences, reminding us of the enduring power and significance of these silent giants in our world.”
