The Man Who Planted Trees

After class, I was so touched by that last film we watched (although you may not have thought so by my quick "that was really good" comment and immediate departure for my 4:15 class) that I looked up more about it as soon as I could. Actually, I like it so much, I'm in my Intro to Psych class right now reading and blogging about it.

I was disappointed to discover that this is not, in fact, a true story, and that it was based on a fictional character and a fictional experience. Actually, Jean Giono says himself that the purpose for making the film was "to make trees likeable, or more specifically, make planting trees likeable." He certainly accomplished this with me, but so much more resonated in my mind then just the idea that I need to go out and plant a tree.

This was a wonderful story about rebirth, patience, the wonder of solitude, the music of nature, the schemes of man, the triumph of the earth, and, most importantly, a very intimate way for us to connect with our maker.

Rebirth - the story begins with a desolate wasteland, and the end result is a wonderful forest. In fact, it brought another lovely animated classic to mind: At one point in the short, the phrase "Lazerus had left his tomb," was actually used regarding the new, fresh forest. The forest had resurrected, and God's greatest creation, a single man, had brought it about.

Patience - although it was only a minor theme in my eyes, the benefits of being a patient soul were evident in this work

I LOVED the parts where men would gather and have conversations about what they were going to do with the forest, or that they were going to try to use it for something of their own benefit. Each time, Elzeard, the spirit and soul of the forest, was so far away from where this was happening, he was ignorant and completely passive on whatever they were planning, and thus, he and his forest overcame their plans for control.

This, to me, was what directly connected him to God, metaphorically and spiritually. He is the creator of this forest. It is an extension of his existence, which is the way we tend to try to wrap our minds around our relationship with God. As creatures made in God's image, it is hard for us to feel his pleasures until we do what we were meant to: create. And sure, we all create in some way or another, further proving that it is what we were meant to do, but this fictional man has taken on another responsibility entirely.

Not only is he creating, he is creating to preserve God's original masterpiece. He is acting as God's fingers and hands.

This is perhaps a fictional story frame for frame, but at the heart of it, it is one of the major truths that make up our world. It has a lot to do with where we came from, how good it is, and how we can start to get back.

Then again, it could also just be about planting trees.