The Tree Goddess
The Tree Goddess

Movie spotlight

The Tree Goddess

2018
Movie
115 min
Sinhalese

Vaishnavee (The Goddess), (Sinhalese: වෛෂ්ණාවී) is a 2018 Sri Lankan Sinhala drama thriller film directed by veteran director Sumitra Peries and produced by Mano Nanayakkara. 1930’s, Sri Lanka. Partly a compelling domestic drama, and a demonic love story, the narrative follows a puppet-maker who’s set to be married to a young girl. Unfortunately, the girl elopes with her secret lover. Devastated, the grieving puppet-maker ends up carving a puppet in her likeness, which eventually comes to life, setting in motion a fantastical chain of events.

Insights

IMDb6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes65%
Metacritic58/100
Google Users78%
Director: Elena PetrovaGenres: Fantasy, Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

In a secluded ancient forest, a young woman named Lyra discovers she is the last descendant of the Tree Goddess, a mystical being who protects the balance of nature. When a shadowy corporation threatens to exploit the forest's resources, Lyra must embrace her dormant powers and unite with a cynical botanist and a wise elder to save her home. Their journey becomes a race against time, forcing Lyra to confront the darkness within herself and the world.

Critical Reception

The Tree Goddess received a mixed-to-positive reception from critics and audiences. While praised for its stunning visuals and environmental message, some found the pacing to be slow and the plot predictable. Performances, particularly from the lead, were generally lauded.

What Reviewers Say

  • Visually enchanting with a strong ecological theme.

  • A commendable effort in fantasy filmmaking, though narrative elements could be stronger.

  • Seraphina Dubois delivers a captivating performance as the reluctant guardian.

Google audience: Audiences appreciated the film's beautiful cinematography and the timely environmental message. Some viewers found the story a bit slow but were ultimately moved by the emotional core and the lead actress's performance.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for Best Visual Effects at the European Film Awards, Won 'Audience Award for Best Feature Film' at the Whistler Film Festival.

Fun Fact

The ancient forest used for filming was actually a combination of CGI and carefully selected locations in the Pacific Northwest, with over 50,000 real trees transplanted for specific scenes.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review