'The Tree' takes a standing ovation as the curtains close on Cannes

26 May 2010

From ScreenWest

Screenings - External

The 63rd Cannes Film Festival came to a close with the life affirming Australian-French co-production The Tree, which reportedly received a seven minute standing ovation. Congratulations to Sue Taylor, Taylor Media and all involved.

Transmission Films, the film’s sales agent, reported a rapturous standing ovation: Variety described it as a “top-flight technical achievement for Aussie filmmaking” and “several grades above the norm for a Cannes closing-night selection”.

After the success of its gala world premiere, the film will swiftly follow with another debut; returning to its Aussie roots for the Australian premiere at the Sydney Film Festival where it’s in competition. The Tree will also screen at the Melbourne International Film Festival and is expected to be in cinemas later in the year.

Shot entirely in Australia, the film is an adaptation of Judy Pascoe’s novel, Our Father Who Art in the Tree. The film tells the story of a family rebuilding after a tragedy and a young girl who believes her late father whispers to her through the branches of her favourite tree.

Directed by Julie Bertuccelli, the film was shot in Boonah, south-east Queensland, last year and stars last year’s Cannes best actress winner Charlotte Gainsbourg and Australian actors Marton Csokas and Aden Young and an enormous Moreton Bay fig tree, which according to Micahel Glitz from the Huffington Post “whoever did the “tree casting” for this drama deserves a prize”.

The Tree is produced by Sue Taylor from Taylor Media and Yael Fogiel from Les Films du Poisson and executive producers Rosemary Blight from Goal Post Pictures and Kent Smith from KOJO Pictures.