To the Wonder

Last updated
To the Wonder
To The Wonder US Theatrical Release Poster, 2013.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Terrence Malick
Written byTerrence Malick
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Emmanuel Lubezki
Edited by
  • A. J. Edwards
  • Keith Fraase
  • Shane Hazen
  • Christopher Roldan
  • Mark Yoshikawa
Music by Hanan Townshend
Production
company
Brothers K Productions
Distributed by Magnolia Pictures
Release dates
  • September 2, 2012 (2012-09-02)(Venice)
  • April 12, 2013 (2013-04-12)(United States)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryUnited States
Languages
  • English
  • French
  • Spanish
  • Italian
Box office$2.7 million [1] [2]

To the Wonder is a 2012 American experimental romantic drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick and starring Ben Affleck, Olga Kurylenko, Rachel McAdams, and Javier Bardem. Filmed in Oklahoma and Paris, the film chronicles a couple who, after falling in love in Paris, struggle to keep their relationship from falling apart after moving to the United States. The film premiered in competition at the 2012 Venice Film Festival, [3] where it was nominated for the Golden Lion Award. It received mixed reactions at its premiere in Venice, but was awarded the SIGNIS Award at the same festival. [4] The film continued to polarize critics upon its theatrical release, with many praising Malick's direction and Lubezki's cinematography, though finding the narrative emotionally unsatisfying. [5]

Contents

Plot

The Mont-Saint-Michel serves as a pivotal location for the beginning of To the Wonder France - St. Malo, Le Mont Saint Michel - panoramio (2).jpg
The Mont-Saint-Michel serves as a pivotal location for the beginning of To the Wonder

Neil (Ben Affleck) is an American traveling in Europe who in Paris meets and falls in love with Marina (Olga Kurylenko), a Ukrainian divorcée who is living with her ten-year-old daughter Tatiana (Tatiana Chiline). Basking in their new romance, the lovers travel to Mont St. Michel, the island abbey off the coast of Normandy. Neil makes a commitment to Marina, inviting her to relocate with Tatiana to his native Oklahoma. Neil takes a job as an environmental inspector, and Marina settles into her life in the United States. After some time, the couple’s passionate romance cools. Marina finds solace with the Catholic priest Father Quintana (Javier Bardem), who is undergoing his own crisis of faith. Tatiana begins to feel homesick due to not having made friends at her school, and complains that Neil is not her real father. Some time later, Marina tells Neil that her visa has expired, and she and her daughter return to France.

Continuing his work as an environmental inspector, Neil reconnects with Jane (Rachel McAdams), a childhood friend. Jane tells Neil very quietly that her farm is going bankrupt because her former husband encumbered it with his huge gambling debt. Neil begins a romance with Jane. Back in France, after giving Tatiana back to her father (Marina's former husband), Marina finds she misses Oklahoma and is unable to find a job. Due to Neil's unwillingness to commit to Jane, their relationship disintegrates.

Returning to Oklahoma, Marina reconnects with Neil. The couple marry in a civil ceremony. After going to the doctor to discuss removing an intrauterine device in order to be able to conceive, Marina begins to feel isolated again. Although they also had a religious wedding ceremony, the couple's relationship begins to deteriorate. Meanwhile, Father Quintana ministers to prisoners and local people. One day, Marina approaches Charlie (Charles Baker), a carpenter who had given her a wind harp. She follows him to a motel where the two have a tryst. While in a drive-through at a fast food restaurant, Marina confesses the event to Neil and asks his forgiveness. In anger, Neil pulls over and leaves Marina stranded by the road. Shortly after, Neil returns to pick her up.

Neil later seeks counselling from Father Quintana. Marina appears to have borne a child since her encounter with Charlie but there is ambiguity about the identity of its father. Neil accompanies the priest as he ministers to the poor, learning forgiveness and humility. Eventually offering Marina forgiveness, Neil kneels before her and kisses her hands. Neil and Marina appear to divorce, and they are last seen together as he leaves her at an airport. Marina tells him, "I want to keep your name".

The film's closing moments depict Fr. Quintana tending the aged, the poor, and the imprisoned with voice-over from the priest reciting a variation of the prayer of St. Patrick ("Christ with me. Christ before me. Christ behind me..."). A few years later, Neil is seen with what looks like his family. Marina is shown walking in a rain-drenched, pastoral setting. In a state of ecstatic discovery, she turns to see a brilliant, golden light pass over her face. "The Wonder" – Mont Saint-Michel – remains rooted to the earth with its spire piercing the heavens.

Cast

Production

Development

When announced in February 2010, the film was set to co-star Christian Bale. [6] Bale ultimately dropped out of the production and was replaced by Ben Affleck; Rachel McAdams also joined the cast. [7]

As with its predecessor, The Tree of Life , and its successor, Knight of Cups, the film's conception and plot stem from autobiographical elements: Terrence Malick met his second wife Michèle Morette in Paris in the early 1980s, and the couple lived in Oklahoma for a period prior to their separation. [8]

Filming

Much of To the Wonder was filmed in Bartlesville, Oklahoma Downtown Bartlesville, OK.jpg
Much of To the Wonder was filmed in Bartlesville, Oklahoma

When the film entered production it did not have a title, and was referred to by the crew as Project D. [9] Filming took place primarily in Bartlesville and Pawhuska, Oklahoma, the latter the center of the Osage Nation, and began in September 2010. [10] [11] Additional shooting took place in early 2011 in Bartlesville and Paris, France. [12] [13] Shots in France include scenes at Mont Saint-Michel, inside the Paris Métro and at La Défense. [14]

Malick and his crew adopted an experimental approach. Actors described working without a screenplay or the use of lights. [12] [15] Olga Kurylenko described the shooting process as more like a dance performance than traditional acting, stating: “What he always said was, ‘Keep moving, keep moving. Don’t stop.’ If I ever stopped, he’d poke me to keep going.” [16] Likewise, cinematographer on the film, Emmanuel Lubezki, was given instructions to be “in the eye of the hurricane” — in the middle of a scene, constantly interacting with the characters. [16] Lubezki called the film "abstract", and described it as being less tied to theatrical conventions and more purely cinematic than any prior film directed by Malick. [9]

Post-production

Malick handed out works of literature to his editing team for inspiration, such as Flaubert's Madame Bovary and Walker Percy's The Moviegoer . [16] Also referenced to his editors was a phrase found in Margaret A. Doody’s introduction to Samuel Richardson’s 1740 novel Pamela. The phrase "radiant zigzag becoming", became an unofficial motto for the film's editing team during post-production. [16] Also referenced during the editing of the film were the French New Wave films Jules and Jim by Truffaut (the score of which was used as part of a temp soundtrack) and Godard's Breathless , Pierrot le Fou , and Vivre Sa Vie . [16] They were chosen for their elliptical narrative and editing styles which Malick hoped his editing team would embrace. [16]

Typical of a Malick project, many actors who worked on the film were eventually cut during post-production. Jessica Chastain, Rachel Weisz, Amanda Peet, Barry Pepper and Michael Sheen were originally part of the film, but no footage of their performances was kept for the final cut. [17]

Release

After a world premiere on September 2, 2012, as an official selection of the 69th Venice Film Festival, the film screened at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival. [18] [19] Shortly after, Magnolia Pictures acquired distribution rights to the film. [20] The film was released in a limited release and through video on demand on April 12, 2013. [21]

The film opened with $130,000 in select screens and was in the top ten iTunes rentals the week of its opening. It ended up with an approximate worldwide gross of $2,783,139. [22]

Reception

Critical response

The film received mixed reviews from critics. [23] On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 48% approval rating based on 172 reviews, with an average rating of 6.1 out of 10. The site's consensus reads, "To the Wonder demonstrates Terrence Malick's gift for beautiful images, but its narrative is overly somber and emotionally unsatisfying." [5] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 58 out of 100 based on 41 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [23]

To the Wonder was the final film reviewed by Roger Ebert prior to his death on April 4, 2013. His review was published two days later. He awarded it three and a half out of four stars, stating:

A more conventional film would have assigned a plot to these characters and made their motivations more clear. Malick, who is surely one of the most romantic and spiritual of filmmakers, appears almost naked here before his audience, a man not able to conceal the depth of his vision. [24]

Several reviewers welcomed the religious themes of the film. [25] [26] [27] Dawn LaValle, writing for First Things , summarizes: "To the Wonder startles us into realizing that the world is shot through, positively charged, with [divine] presence. Whether that presence is fructifying love or slinking destruction stands as an accusing question throughout the film." [28] Likewise, the Jury which awarded To the Wonder the SIGNIS Award at the Venice Film Festival, said of the film: "The film’s rich composition, textured direction, and its use of light bring together elements of divinity and humanity ultimately creating a sacramental experience which reveals God’s gift of unconditional love." [4]

Top ten lists

The film appeared on a few critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2013. [29]

Accolades

List of accolades
Award / Film festivalCategoryRecipient(s)Result
69th Venice Film Festival Golden Lion Terrence Malick Nominated
SIGNIS Award Terrence Malick Won

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Badlands</i> (film) 1973 American film by Terrence Malick

Badlands is a 1973 American neo-noir period crime drama film written, produced and directed by Terrence Malick, in his directorial debut. The film stars Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek, and follows Holly Sargis (Spacek), a 15-year old who goes on a killing spree with her partner, Kit Carruthers (Sheen). The film also stars Warren Oates and Ramon Bieri. While the story is fictional, it is loosely based on the real-life murder spree of Charles Starkweather and his girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate, in 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrence Malick</span> American filmmaker (born 1943)

Terrence Frederick Malick is an American filmmaker. His films include Badlands (1973), Days of Heaven (1978), The Thin Red Line (1998), for which he received Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award nominations, The New World (2005), and The Tree of Life (2011), which garnered him another Best Director Oscar nomination and the Palme d'Or at the 64th Cannes Film Festival.

<i>Good Will Hunting</i> 1997 film by Gus Van Sant

Good Will Hunting is a 1997 American psychological drama film directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. It stars Robin Williams, Damon, Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård and Minnie Driver. The film tells the story of janitor Will Hunting, whose mathematical genius is discovered by a professor at MIT.

<i>The New World</i> (2005 film) 2005 film by Terrence Malick

The New World is a 2005 historical romantic drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick, depicting the founding of the Jamestown, Virginia, settlement and inspired by the historical figures Captain John Smith, Pocahontas of the Powhatan tribe, and Englishman John Rolfe. It is the fourth feature film written and directed by Malick.

<i>The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford</i> 2007 film by Andrew Dominik

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a 2007 American epic revisionist Western film written and directed by Andrew Dominik. Based on Ron Hansen's 1983 novel of the same name, the film dramatizes the relationship between Jesse James and Robert Ford, focusing on the events that lead up to the titular killing. It stars Brad Pitt as James and Casey Affleck as Ford, with Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker, Paul Schneider, Jeremy Renner, Zooey Deschanel, and Sam Rockwell in supporting roles.

<i>Gone Baby Gone</i> 2007 American film

Gone Baby Gone is a 2007 American neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Ben Affleck in his directorial debut. Affleck co-wrote the screenplay with Aaron Stockard based on the 1998 novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane. The film stars Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan as two Boston private investigators hunting for a young girl abducted from her single mother's apartment in Dorchester. The supporting cast includes Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, and Amy Ryan. It was the final film to be released by The Ladd Company before its closure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emmanuel Lubezki</span> Mexican cinematographer

Emmanuel Lubezki Morgenstern is a Mexican cinematographer. He sometimes goes by the nickname Chivo, which means "goat" in Spanish. Lubezki has worked with many acclaimed directors, including Mike Nichols, Tim Burton, Michael Mann, Joel and Ethan Coen, David O. Russell, and frequent collaborators Terrence Malick, Alfonso Cuarón, and Alejandro González Iñárritu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olga Kurylenko</span> Ukrainian-born actress and model (born 1979)

Olga Kostyantynivna Kurylenko is an actress and former fashion model. Born and raised in Ukraine, she moved to France at age 16 to pursue a modelling career. Kurylenko refocused on acting in 2004 and had her breakthrough film role in the action-thriller Hitman (2007). She gained recognition as Camille Montes in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace (2008).

<i>The Tree of Life</i> (film) 2011 American epic experimental drama film directed by Terrence Malick

The Tree of Life is a 2011 American epic experimental coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick. Its main cast includes Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Hunter McCracken, Laramie Eppler, Jessica Chastain, and Tye Sheridan in his debut feature film role. The film chronicles the origins and meaning of life by way of a middle-aged man's childhood memories of his family living in 1950s Texas, interspersed with imagery of the origins of the universe and the inception of life on Earth.

<i>Voyage of Time</i> 2016 film by Terrence Malick

Voyage of Time is a 2016 American experimental documentary film written and directed by Terrence Malick. The film is said to be an examination of the birth and death of the known universe. Malick had been working on the film for over forty years and it has been described by Malick himself as "one of my greatest dreams".

Sarah Green is an American film producer. She currently sits on the National Board of Directors for the Producers Guild of America. On January 24, 2012, she was nominated for an Academy Award for the film The Tree of Life.

<i>Erased</i> (2012 film) 2012 film

Erased is a 2012 Canadian-Belgian action thriller film directed by Philipp Stölzl, starring Aaron Eckhart and Olga Kurylenko. The story centers on Ben Logan an ex-CIA agent and Amy, his estranged daughter who are forced on the run when his employers erase all records of his existence, and mark them both for termination as part of a wide-reaching international conspiracy. It was released in the US on 17 May 2013, following its acquisition by RaDiUS-TWC, the multiplatform distribution label of The Weinstein Company. It was retitled Erased for the US market.

<i>Knight of Cups</i> (film) 2015 film by Terrence Malick

Knight of Cups is a 2015 American experimental drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick and produced by Nicolas Gonda, Sarah Green and Ken Kao. The film features an ensemble cast, starring Christian Bale as the central character.

<i>Song to Song</i> 2017 American film

Song to Song is a 2017 American experimental romantic drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick and starring an ensemble cast including Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender, Natalie Portman, and Cate Blanchett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tye Sheridan</span> American actor (born 1996)

Tye Kayle Sheridan is an American actor. He is known for playing the young Scott Summers / Cyclops in the X-Men film series (2016–2019) and for his starring role in the science fiction film Ready Player One (2018).

<i>Aint Them Bodies Saints</i> 2013 American film

Ain't Them Bodies Saints is a 2013 American romantic crime drama film written and directed by David Lowery. The film stars Casey Affleck as Bob Muldoon, Rooney Mara as Ruth Guthrie and Ben Foster as Patrick Wheeler. Bob (Affleck) and Ruth (Mara) are a couple who become involved in criminal activities and are caught, with Bob taking the blame and going to prison. The film follows the events after the criminal activities as Ruth gives birth to their daughter, and the two live comfortably. When the child is nearly four, Bob escapes from jail and goes looking to reconnect with his family.

<i>Momentum</i> (2015 film) 2015 film by Stephen Campanelli

Momentum is a 2015 action thriller film directed by Stephen Campanelli, and starring Olga Kurylenko, Morgan Freeman and James Purefoy. A high tech thief is pursued by mysterious government agents.

Terrence Malick is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. Throughout his career, which has spanned over four decades, he has directed nine feature films and one documentary. He has also written scripts for other directors, and since the 1990s has acted as producer and executive producer on numerous projects.

<i>Gun Shy</i> (2017 film) 2017 British film

Gun Shy is a British action comedy film directed by Simon West starring Antonio Banderas. It was released on 8 September 2017.

Thy Kingdom Come is a 2018 American short film directed by Eugene Richards and starring Javier Bardem. It is a spinoff of Terrence Malick's 2012 feature film To the Wonder. Thy Kingdom Come consists of cut footage from To the Wonder.

References

  1. ↑ "To The Wonder (2013)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  2. ↑ "To The Wonder (2013) - International Box Office Results - Box Office Mojo". boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "2012 Official Selection". La Biennale di Venezia. Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  4. 1 2 "SIGNIS". www.signis.net. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  5. 1 2 "To The Wonder". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  6. ↑ "Terrence Malick to shoot romantic drama". Film Nation Entertainment. 2010-02-03. Archived from the original on 2013-12-16. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  7. ↑ Sneider, Jeff (2010-08-12). "Exclusive: Ben Affleck, Rachel Weisz Join Terrence Malick's Next Movie". The Wrap. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  8. ↑ "The Ghost Dance". The Whale-Ship Globe. Retrieved 2013-08-31.
  9. 1 2 Macnab, Geoffrey; Lubezki, Emmanuel (July 2011). "The Light Fantastic". Sight & Sound . 21 (7). BFI: 22–23.
  10. ↑ "Malick Movie Confirmed for Oklahoma, Shooting Begins". Rockville Music Magazine. 2010-09-17. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  11. ↑ Polacca, Benny (2010-10-19). "Untitled film starring Ben Affleck shot in downtown Pawhuska". Osage News. Archived from the original on 2013-01-13. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  12. 1 2 Smith, Michael (2011-03-25). "Tulsa stockbroker lucks into acting role with Ben Affleck". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  13. ↑ Chitwood, Adam (2011-05-28). "New Details on Terrence Malick's Romantic Drama Starring Ben Affleck". Collider. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  14. ↑ Joudet, Murielle (2013-03-07). "A la merveille". Chro (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  15. ↑ Weintraub, Steve (2011-01-05). "Barry Pepper Exclusive Interview". Collider. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Radiant Zigzag Becoming: How Terrence Malick and His Team Constructed To the Wonder". Vulture. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  17. ↑ "Barry Pepper, Michael Sheen & Amanda Peet Also Cut From Terrence Malick's 'To The Wonder'". The Playlist. 2012-08-29. Retrieved 2012-08-30.
  18. ↑ "2 September". La Biennale di Venezia. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  19. ↑ "To the Wonder". TIFF. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  20. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (28 September 2012). "Toronto: Magnolia Pictures Acquires Terrence Malick's 'To The Wonder'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  21. ↑ Schaefer, Sandy (8 March 2013). "'To the Wonder' Trailer: A Love Story by Terrence Malick". ScreenRant.com. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  22. ↑ "To The Wonder (2013)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  23. 1 2 "To the Wonder". Metacritic . Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  24. ↑ Ebert, Roger (6 April 2013). "To the Wonder". Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  25. ↑ O'Hehir, Andrew. "Pick of the week: Terrence Malick's rapturous, religious love story". Salon. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  26. ↑ Michaelson, Jay. "To the Wonder: Terrence Malick's Mystical Lens: Once again, Malick proves he is the filmmaker who depicts religion better than anyone else".
  27. ↑ Linker, Damon. "Terrence Malick's moving Christian message — and film critics' failure to engage with it". theweek.com. The Week. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  28. ↑ "To the Wonder: Terrence Malick and the Fecundity of Commitment". First Things. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 "Metacritic: 2013 Film Critic Top Ten Lists". Metacritic . Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  30. ↑ "Best of 2013: Best films of 2013". Time Out New York . Retrieved May 20, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.