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The Sea of Trees

  • 2015
  • PG-13
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
19K
YOUR RATING
Matthew McConaughey, Ken Watanabe, and Naomi Watts in The Sea of Trees (2015)
Trailer for The Sea Of Trees
Play trailer1:57
2 Videos
98 Photos
Psychological DramaTragedyDramaFantasyMysteryThriller

A suicidal American befriends a Japanese man lost in a forest near Mt. Fuji and the two search for a way out.A suicidal American befriends a Japanese man lost in a forest near Mt. Fuji and the two search for a way out.A suicidal American befriends a Japanese man lost in a forest near Mt. Fuji and the two search for a way out.

  • Director
    • Gus Van Sant
  • Writer
    • Chris Sparling
  • Stars
    • Matthew McConaughey
    • Naomi Watts
    • Ken Watanabe
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    19K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Gus Van Sant
    • Writer
      • Chris Sparling
    • Stars
      • Matthew McConaughey
      • Naomi Watts
      • Ken Watanabe
    • 141User reviews
    • 101Critic reviews
    • 23Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos2

    The Sea of Trees
    Trailer 1:57
    The Sea of Trees
    The Sea Of Trees | Official Trailer HD
    Trailer 1:57
    The Sea Of Trees | Official Trailer HD
    The Sea Of Trees | Official Trailer HD
    Trailer 1:57
    The Sea Of Trees | Official Trailer HD

    Photos98

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    + 92
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    Top cast57

    Edit
    Matthew McConaughey
    Matthew McConaughey
    • Arthur Brennan
    Naomi Watts
    Naomi Watts
    • Joan Brennan
    Ken Watanabe
    Ken Watanabe
    • Takumi Nakamura
    Ryoko Seta
    • Airport Desk Agent
    Sienna Tow
    • Girl in Airport
    Naoko Marshall
    • Flight Attendant
    Michiko Tomura
    • Woman on Train
    Yûsuke Tozawa
    • Man on Train
    • (as Yusuke Tozawa)
    Abe Lee Tsunenori
    • Taxi Driver
    • (as Tsunenori Lee Abe)
    Joe Girard
    Joe Girard
    • Man at Convenience Store
    • (as Joseph Girard)
    Jazmin Domenech
    • Young Woman
    Luke DeWolfe
    • Young Man
    Katie Aselton
    Katie Aselton
    • Gabriella Laforte
    Nada Despotovich
    • Maryanne Wescott
    Christopher Tarjan
    • Gil Cramer
    Charles Van Eman
    • Paul Wescott
    Bruce Norris
    • Dr. Howerton
    Joe Baken
    Joe Baken
    • Simon
    • (as Joseph Baken)
    • Director
      • Gus Van Sant
    • Writer
      • Chris Sparling
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews141

    6.119.3K
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    Featured reviews

    7mary_javidi

    One should know about Symbols before watching this movie

    I had no idea what kind of movie i was watching, maybe i Just decided to watch it because of Matthew Mcconaughey playing in it but then it got me. I knew about C.G. Yung and Joseph Campbell's method of analyzing symbols and mythology and however at the beginning I did not realize it and even thought it might be a horror movie but then slowly by slowly it opened to me like if you see some one and they look familiar but you don't know how you know them and then that aha moment comes. After that I enjoyed every moment of the movie and could not stop thinking about it for some time.

    I have to be fair though and admit that the flash backs could get a bit boring sometimes but I think it is just because the situation the couples were in was boring and nerve racking any way so in the movie they could not change it.it is how it is.

    At the end I'd say its a clean, honest and truthful story without lies or exaggerations. the acts are great the scenes are well chosen and effective and well again if you know a bit about symbols you might learn something out of it.
    7chenggaga

    Life is so precious even if you don't like it at all

    What is life, the strange question. People suffers from depression, sorrow and sadness. People lose someone they love. That's the reason so people want to die.

    To here we are, an American who didn't know the meaning of his life, neither his life partner. Every life has up site down. So they do.

    So something happened to them that shouldn't have happened.

    He decided to go the jungle of mass suicide. Per years there are 100+ suicide reports into this jungle. The Japanese name of this jungle is Aokigahara. also known as the Suicide Forest or Sea of Trees

    So let me talk about the low rating and bad reviews. I suggest, do not listen to them. This isn't a everyone type movie. Some people like and someone dislikes. I liked it. And i realized that Life is precious.
    7AJ4F

    Why was this panned? It's unique and worth seeing.

    Was there a major edit made for the U.S. release? I'd read that it started off good and the ending got convoluted, but the film was consistently well played throughout. Regardless of any changes, watching this taught me again that critics are fickle and you need to see something yourself. There can be a negative mob mentality if a film gets bad press early on, even if people don't really know why.

    McConaughey's acting was subdued for his character and it fit the role. I won't give away the plot twists but I'd recommend this as much as any recent, well-received movie. The atmosphere was unique and low-key, and I couldn't find major faults, though I wasn't totally surprised by a certain driving scene.
    7pino-37062

    Lovely journey

    Though it starts slow and kind of unnerving, the story unfolds in a beautiful way.

    Great actors. Meaningful life themes.

    Beautiful ending. Makes all the discomfort worth it.

    Just take it slow, pour a glass of wine and let it conquer you in a subtle, japanese, endearing kind of way.
    7islam-94927

    A Good Movie

    I think the movie is underrated. I know it is not one of the best movies that anyone should watch,but it is not that awful. A great crew in this movie. The script is not that good.The movie will really touches u.The drama was good. A good experience for anyone. there is no doubt that Matthew did a great job at this movie, but he should take care of his coming movies. I compare between his role in this movie and mud. I think the difference can not be noticed. The same of his voice at both movies. overall the whole cast and the movie is very good for me. I recommend the lovers of drama to watch this movie especially the psycho movie lovers. do not be so harsh on Matthew. Each actor need a variety.It is a good one

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    Related interests

    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Psychological Drama
    Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams in Manchester by the Sea (2016)
    Tragedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The forest scenes were filmed in Purgatory Chasm, a Massachusetts state reservation. Interestingly, while stumbling through the woods, the Ken Watanabe character says to the Matthew McConaughey character, "You are in purgatory".
    • Goofs
      When Arthur is shown on the airplane, he has the orchid with him and then again when he arrives home (he is shown setting the potted flower down). An agricultural item such as this would have to go through quarantine and he would never just take it home.
    • Quotes

      Takumi Nakamura: You must know, this forest is very powerful.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Sea of Trees: A Story of Beauty and Tragedy (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Uma Prece (A Prayer)
      Written by Luiz Bonfá (as Luiz Bonfa)

      Performed by Luiz Bonfá (as Luiz Bonfa)

      From the recording entitled Solo in Rio 1959, SFW40483

      Courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, (p) (c) 2005

      Used by permission

      (c) Irmãos Vitale SA Indústria e Comércio. Administered by Peer International Corporation.

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    FAQ19

    • How long is The Sea of Trees?Powered by Alexa
    • Who is the other man?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 26, 2016 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Море дерев
    • Filming locations
      • Mount Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan
    • Production companies
      • Bloom
      • Netter Productions
      • Waypoint Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $25,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $20,444
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,877
      • Aug 28, 2016
    • Gross worldwide
      • $906,995
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 50m(110 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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