The Man Who Planted Trees
by Frederic Back
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Director: Frederic BackDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: French (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Digital Sound, NTSC
Running Time: 60 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-11-01
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: CBC Radio-Canada
Movie Reviews of The Man Who Planted Trees
Movie Review: My search for a movie universally loved and admired may be completed
Summary: 5 Stars
Frédéric Back's 30 minutes long Oscar winning animated film "The Man Who Planted Trees" is astounding work of art with its beautiful story and the images that equal it. The story written by the French writer Jean Giono that tells about Elzeard Bouffier, a quiet shepherd, and later bee keeper who never talked much but over 35 years of hard work singlehandedly cultivated a magnificent forest in a desolate area of Provence, France and made it a peaceful and happy home for over 10, 000 people, is highly moving, inspirational, and life-affirming. It makes a viewer proud of what a man can achieve if he is determined to create, not to destroy. Every frame looks and feels not like a flat drawing but like a beloved painting of a celebrated impressionist painter (Monet, Sisley, Morisot, and Pissarro, the "purest" impressionists come first to mind). To achieve this effect, Back worked on unpolished acetates using crayons and modulating the colors. During the film, the colors change dramatically from barren and lifeless desert like palette in the beginning to the tender glowing delicate colors of blossoming eternal Spring in the final scenes. I was absolutely mesmerized by Back's visual style and his ability to beautifully translate such a literally story to the screen and not to lose any of its appeal but on the contrary to enrich it with incredible taste and unique exquisite beauty and tenderness of his images. For the first time, I came across the work of animation that reminded me so much of my all time favorite animated film "Tale of Tales" (1978) by Yuri Norstein, artistically and spiritually. It was not surprising for me to find out that Norstein and Back have met, respect and admire each other work and that Norstein studied Back's techniques and took with him to Moscow Back's acetates and coloring pencils that he was going to use while working on his ambitious project, full feature animation "Overcoat".
There is one question that pops up from time to time on the different film forums, "Is there any movie that all viewers would love and cherish"? I am always skeptical and up until tonight used to believe that the universally loved movie simply does not exist. I am happy to admit that I was wrong. I don't think that anyone who saw this little marvel may not be affected by its clear message, its kindness, beauty, and artistry.
Highly recommended as deservingly one of the very best animated movies ever made.
5+/5
Summary of The Man Who Planted Trees
The Man Who Planted Trees tells the story of a solitary sheperd who patiently plants and nurtures a forest of thousands of trees, single-handedly transforming his arid surroundings into a thriving oasis. Undeterred by two World Wars, and without any thought of personal reward, the sheperd tirelessly sows his seeds and acorns with the greatest care. As if by magic, a landscape that seemed condemned grows green again. A film of great beauty and hope, this story is a remarkable parable for all ages and an inspiring testament to the power of one person.Similar DVD Movies
Ladislaw Starewicz - Cameraman's Revenge & Other Fantastic TalesImage Entertainment; Release date: 2005-01-04; DVD
Best price: $11.22
Price in other shops:
The Astonishing Work of Tezuka OsamuKino International; Release date: 2009-07-28; DVD
Best price: $17.72
Price in other shops:
Phantom Museums: The Short Films of the Quay BrothersZeitgeist Films; Release date: 2007-04-24; DVD
Best price: $19.63
Price in other shops:
L'Homme Qui Plantait Des Arbres (French Edition)by Jean Giono
Schoenhofs Foreign Books; Published: 2002-04-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.79
Price in other shops:
The Exquisite Short Films of Kihachiro KawamotoKino International; Release date: 2008-04-22; DVD
Best price: $18.67
Price in other shops:
The Man Who Planted Treesby Jean Giono, Norma Lorre Goodrich
Chelsea Green; Published: 2005-05-29; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $16.88
Price in other shops:
The Man Who Planted Trees, 20th Anniversaryby Jean Giono
Chelsea Green; Published: 2005-04-29; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.95
Price in other shops:
The Man Who Planted Trees: Generosity of Spirit as a Source of Happinessby Jean Giono, Frédéric Back
Heron Dance Press; Published: 2007-06-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $19.95
Price in other shops:
The Man Who Planted Treesby Jean Giono
Chelsea Green Publishing; Published: 2007-10-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.95
Price in other shops:
The Man Who Planted Treesby Jean Giono, Aline Giono
Random House UK; Published: 2003-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.26
Price in other shops: