Perth Premiere at Luna Leederville

The Tree celebrated its Perth premiere last Thursday, 23 September, filling around 300 seats at Luna Cinemas Leederville -"a hugely successful prelude to its national release" (ScreenWest). The evening was hosted by PAC director Annie Murtagh-Monks, and included an introduction and Q & A with producer Sue Taylor, as well as a VIP party at Monza, Leederville.

Every VIP guest received an exciting Tree goodie bag with flower seeds, a book voucher, and many other surprises. The green chocolate frogs were a particular favourite.

 Sue Taylor in front of Luna Cinemas Leederville

 Annie Murtagh-Monks, hosting the Q & A

 The VIP party at Monza

Tree goodie bags

Australia's Got Talent

Morgana Davies & Zoe Boe of The Tree

Born and raised in Sydney, Morgana Davies has stunned audiences worldwide with her feature film debut: she plays the major role of Simone O'Neill in The Tree, the little girl who believes her late father is living on inside the fig tree in the family's backyard. Only seven and a half when she got cast for the film, Morgana has already achieved celebrity status in Europe. She recently travelled to Paris to see Julie Bertuccelli, and met Kirsten Dunst and Tim Burton at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

Brisbane local Zoe Boe plays the role of Simone's best friend Megan Lu. She travelled to Cannes with her father Andrew and her sister Greer. 

Morgana and Zoe were on the red carpet with the director, producers, and their co-stars Charlotte Gainsbourg and Gabriel Gotting. "The press went mad for all the Aussie kids and clamoured to photograph and interview Morgana. She even did a full international press conference and live TV interviews,” said producer Sue Taylor.“It’s obviously been an incredible experience for Morgana, but she’s taken it in her stride, even when hearing herself dubbed into French for the film’s release there.”

Morgana was featured in last month's Italian Vogue, in a photograph taken on the Cannes Red Carpet, and was recently described as "[easily passing] for a long-lost member of the Jolie-Pitt gene pool" (see article below from the Queensland Sunday Mail:).

The Queensland Sunday Mail 19 September 2010

Zoe was mentioned in Queensland Confidential this week:

and here's a link to a great article about Zoe Boe in the Brisbane Times

 Morgana Davies talks about working on The Tree, and her visit to Cannes and Paris:

Morgana and Zoe, with fellow cast member, Gabriel Gotting on the red carpet at Cannes:

The Book of the film out this week!!!

18/09/2010

(Our Father Who Art In) The Tree, the book of the film, reissued in Australia this week!

The Tree team are excited to announce the reissue of Judy Pascoe’s acclaimed debut novel, Our Father Who Art In The Tree, now The Tree. This much sought after hidden-gem has not been available in Australia for some time. But, soon this lovely book will be out in the country in which it is set, just in time for the cinema release of the film that it inspired, The Tree.

(Our Father Who Art In) The Tree will be available from the warehouse at Murdoch Books from 23 September and in your local book store soon!

Here is an excerpt of UK Kirkus’ review of the book: “This is a triumphant debut novel from Judy Pascoe that will touch the hearts of all who read it. An evocative tale, told through the wistful hopes of Simone as she faces the reality of bereavement, it manages to be both funny and sad. The author tackles the themes of love and loyalty, superstition and religious faith with such poetic imagery and yet such simple language that readers will look at these complex and unsolvable mysteries with the fresh simplicity of a child's eye.” 

For more information on Judy Pascoe and and an interview about her the book check judypascoe.com

Judy Pascoe, Julie Bertuccelli, Sue Taylor and Yael Fogiel on location for The Tree,
photograph by Baruch Rafic

ISBN: 9781742662411
RRP: $22.95
Murdoch Books Australia

Want to read the book in French? Check here for the fabulous French bookshop in Australia: Le Forum

The Tree returns to Boonah

A great night was had by cast, crew and local Boonah residents, when The Tree screened at the Boonah Districts Cultural Centre on Saturday night. Producer Sue Taylor, was very happy to return to the beautiful area of the Scenic Rim to catch up with some old friends and visit the beautiful tree, that is the centrepiece of the film.

Lead actress, Morgana Davies, made a surprise trip up to Boonah to share the fun on the Red Carpet with Margaret Foote, Taren and RJ Stewart, Boonah Mayor John Brent and so many of the people who helped so much during production to make Boonah such a welcoming place.

Sue Taylor in Boonah for The Tree premiere

Sue Taylor read out the call sheet from exactly a year earlier, 18th September 2009, when many of the local cast and crew were involved in the filming of a critical scene around the tree.

All those in attendance loved to see the film, which so portrayed their local area and aspects of their lives, so well. Many said they can't wait to see the film on the big screen, after its release on September 30.

 Morgana Davies on the Boonah red carpet with her father Greg

 The Boonah Mayor and his wife

 Robert Joseph, Taren Stewart, and Morgana Davies

 Margaret and John Foote

The Tree at Mission Beach Film Festival

The Tree screening at the Gala Opening Night of the Mission Beach Film Festival was a huge success over the weekend, led by actor and environmental campaigner Ms Daryl Hannah. Local Queenslander, and Tree star, Bob Mackay, was at the festival with his family (so jealous!!), and was name- checked by Daryl Hannah when she introduced the film.

The audience, obviously appreciative of their local talent, let up a huge roar when Bob appeared in the film!!!! Check out Bob Mackay when you see The Tree, in cinemas from September 30.

Bob Mackay as AB in The Tree, photograph by Baruch Rafic

Prior to the opening night festivities Ms Hannah was joined by Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull, and
festival sponsors at a glamorous pre-screening VIP soiree at The Elandra Resort where Ms
Hannah stayed.
Festival Curator Sue Clothier said ‘Elandra was the perfect environment to thank the supporters
of the festival as we looked out over the Coral Sea to Dunk and Bedarra Islands. Daryl was
stunned by the beauty.’

Daryl Hannah

Ce que j'ai fait sur mes vacances...

"What I did on my holidays.." The Tree in French Class

A close member of our Tree Family was sent a lovely, and surprising email, recently, from a friend of his who has been living in France for the past six weeks, learning the language...

" Thought you'd like to know that yesterday in French class (here in Aix en Provence) someone started telling (in French of course) about this fabulous movie and it was The Tree, which she saw here in France presumably! I of course had to tell them I knew the father of the young actress! Thought you'd like to know!"

Will you be seeing The Tree on your holidays too?

To Build A Home

When the production team were putting together the soundtrack for The Tree, they came across a song, which not only touched their hearts with its beautiful melody, but amazingly, told a similar story to that of The Tree. Check out the wonderful lyrics of 'To Build A Home' by The Cinematic Orchestra below...

There is a house built out of stone

Wooden floors, walls and window sills...

Tables and chairs worn by all of the dust...

This is a place where I don't feel alone

This is a place where I feel at home...

Cause, I built a home

for you

for me

Until it disappeared

from me

from you

And now, it's time to leave and turn to dust...

Out in the garden where we planted the seeds

There is a tree as old as me

Branches were sewn by the color of green

Ground had arose and passed it's knees

By the cracks of the skin I climbed to the top

I climbed the tree to see the world

When the gusts came around to blow me down

I held on as tightly as you held onto me

I held on as tightly as you held onto me......

Cause, I built a home

for you

for me

Until it disappeared

from me

from you

And now, it's time to leave and turn to dust........

Charlotte Gainsbourg as Dawn in The Tree