God moving over the face of the world

i went to see tree of life tonight.  the fifth film that terrance malick has made in almost forty years, this has been immensely anticipated in the cinematic world.  i went into the theater with high expectations, slightly worried that it wouldn't be what i'd built up for it.

i can't quite describe what i was expecting, but whatever i wanted, this surpassed it all, even though i really can't describe what the film was.
in one of my film classes, we learned that universal truths come from specific experiences.  malick understands and utilizes that more effectively (and ambitiously) than just about any other film maker.  (i imagined stanley kubrick watching this and exclaiming, "that's what i wanted 2001 to be!")  
it's already likely to be my favorite movie of the year and i suspect that, when i am forty years old and making my list of the ten best movies of 2010-2019, this will be on that list.  (brandon's review of it is slightly more tangible.)

it was about life.
it was about death.
it was about growing up.
it was about boys.
it was about being a man.
it was about family.
it was about fear.
it was about a woman.
it was about the relationship between a father and a son.
it was about fear.
it was about hope.
it was about a husband and a wife.
it was about being alive.
it was about the loss of innocence.
it was about love.
it was about ascension.
it was about God.
it was about the universe.
it was about millions of years.
it was about creation.
it was about birth.
it was about childhood.
it was about hurt.
it was about growth.
it was about beauty.
it was about the love of a mother.
it was about good & evil.
it was about time.
it was about eternity.
it was about eternal families.
it was about our Heavenly Father.
it was about Progression.
it was about peace.
it was about innocence.
it was about disappointment.
it was about guidance.
it was about humility.
it was about infinity.
it was about dinosaurs.
it was about balance.
it was about justice and mercy.
it was about light and dark.
it was about nature.
it was about grace.

"the only way to be happy is to love.
unless you love, your life will flash by."