How many movies has Terrence Malick made in his life time? Well, six to date. But one was a short. And three were made before 1978. So, when Malick (The Thin Red Line, The New World) decides to grace us with his presence and make a new film–The Tree of Life starring Brad Pitt (Inglorious Bastards), Sean Penn (Milk) and Jessica Chastain (Jolene)–it’s hard to pass it up, even if it is billed as an “existential journey.”

And existential it sure is! The film primarily focuses on a Christian family of five living in Texas in the 1950s, closely following the eldest boy (Hunter McCracken as a young boy, and Sean Penn as a fully grown man) of the family’s three sons, as he slowly loses his innocence while growing up under his strict and religious father (Brad Pitt) and his kind and nurturing mother (Jessica Chastain). Heavily interlaced with themes of the meaning of life and the existence of God, the film also includes almost avante-garde images and scenes of space, nature, and reproduction at the biological level.

It is perhaps best to describe Tree of Life as our generation’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)–  Stanley Kubrick’s still-debated, equally existential film taking place mostly in a spaceship in which he tackles similar themes. Like 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Tree of Life also boasts beautiful and arresting images and scenes. Even though these images constitute when the film becomes its most existential, it is hard to not stare in wonder at how exquisite the pictures are. Again, like Kubrick’s film, The Tree of Life‘s soundtrack is also made up of bold and almost shocking classical pieces, which paired with such beautiful images, continues to engross the viewer through the end of the film.

Finally, perhaps the most astounding similarity between 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Tree of Life is how eerie both films come off. While both films contain such striking, loud classical music, they also contain many scenes in which the silence comes off as almost deafening. Moreover, in The Tree of Life, the film contains a lot of whispered and chanting voice-over narration, which gives the film not only a said eerie feeling, but also a religious one as well.

That’s basically all I can tell you about the movie. Not because I don’t want to give the movie away, but because that’s all I actually understand, even after seeing it, and discussing it, and reflecting upon it. Nevertheless, it was a sensationally beautiful film with great performances all around, especially (and quite surprisingly) by Brad Pitt.

Do I recommend this film? Well, yes I do. If only, so that you might understand my confusion completely.

SEE IT.