The Sea of Trees (2015) Yellow Winter 11,621 – 17 Apr 2025 Professor Arthur Brennan (Matthew McConaughey) travels to Tokyo to go to the Aokigahara forest, the Japan suicide forest, to attempt to suicide via OD of pills. He sees a man named Takumi Nakamura (Ken Watanabe) lost in the forest and trying to leave the place. Nakamura tells him that he was demoted at work and decided to end his life cutting his wrists two days ago, but he regretted it since he missed his wife and daughter. Arthur decides to help Nakamura to find the trail to exit from the forest and they tell each other parts of their lives. In flashbacks, Arthur and his wife, the alcoholic realtor Joan Brennan (Naomi Watts), have a troubled marriage since Arthur had betrayed her with a co-worker. When Joan has a nosebleed, she learns that she has a brain tumor and needs risky surgery. They rekindle their love and after the successful surgery, they learn that it is not a malignant tumor. When the ambulance is heading to a hospital with Joan for her recovery, Arthur follows the ambulance with his car and tells her that he does not know her favorite color or season. Before her answer, a truck crashes the ambulance and kills Joan. Meanwhile, Nakamura tells Arthur that the names of his wife and daughter are "Kiiro" and "Fuyu", respectively. Will they survive? “The Sea of Trees” (2015) is a nice movie by Gus Van Sant, with the story of a grieving professor who travels to Japan to end his life at the Suicide Forest Aokigahara. This forest is referred usually in Japanese horror movies, but Gus Van Sant uses the spot in a depressive and dramatic film. The cast is excellent, with Matthew McConaughey, Ken Watanabe and Naomi Watts, but the unpleasant story does not help much. Anyway, for fans of Gus Van Sant is worthwhile watching to know the work of this director. My vote is six. Title (Brazil): “O Mar de Árvores” (“The Sea of Trees”) My Blog: https://maniacosporfilme.wordpress.com/

Great Cast and really good story overall. Goes without saying it was a little slow. How a man could injure himself that many times in such a short period of time is a little mind boggling.

Slow burner? Yes. But beautifully filmed? Yes. It's incredible! 100/10 stars! Very mind opening. Matthew does it again! Pulls you into this very REAL thing. Do some research on the forest. It's fascinating how they brought the sad but legend to life

Its a good slow movie to watch. Good performance by the three leading characters. Sad theme, perfectly to watch on rainy day.

It was a predictable story, but the way it was done, I really enjoyed it. I loved hearing a little about Aokigahara Forest aka the Suicide Forest in Japan, as well as some Japanese legends. I don't know if the legends were real or not, but they were interesting. It also made me realize (yet again) that sometimes, its the little things that two people in love do that shows how much you really care. 6/10

This was a movie I just glanced over and glad I stopped. After the trailer I was invested. I watched the movie alone and it was something you can self reflect on later. Loving, hating someone while having grief was very real.

Despite the disappointing box office this was a very good movie. Lead by a trio of actors who made this movie work. I especially loved the story and directing. Tim Treakle

It is definitely worth a watch. The ending is the best ever. You'll be happy you kept watching.

Thought-provoking existential film with themes of guilt, forgiveness & redemption. Nice performances by cast. It is shame it was so trashed by "critics".

Few bad scenes, but otherwise nice movie about sorrow and moving on after a tragedy. A bit slow, but carefully constructed, touching and delicate this movie worth to be seen.

I found this film beautiful, poignant, engaging, and cathartic. McConaughey's performance was brilliant, touching, and believable. I cannot fathom why the critics derailed it so. It's a movie that will linger with me for some time, which I consider the hallmark of a good film: thought provoking.

Apparently this movie was pretty much panned by critics and audiences alike, but I loved it. It almost felt like a portrayal of Dante's descent into Hell, but if Dante was actually considering killing himself instead of just looking at Hell. McConaughey enters the forest, passes the gates of death and decides he wants to stay, to die. He even puts on the clothes of a dead man after putting off his own coat, one which his wife gave him, symbolizing his will to live. But, the act of driving Ken Watanabe, who wants to live, through the forest reminds McConaughey of his own will to live. The stuff about the spirits in the woods and Naomi Watts being with McConaughey in spirit form was par for the course of modern spirituality. I could take or leave that portion of the narrative. All in all, I enjoyed it. I love Ken Watanabe in everything, McConaughey is reliably good and the backstory with Watts was really engaging.

I don't understand the low ratings. I enjoyed the scenes in the forest, not so much the scenes with Watts. Interesting story.

I really appreciated this film. It was thought provoking, had a very nice stillness to the pace and a very moving story. Fundamentally about relationships, profound sadness and the mourning of a loved one and lost opportunities. The relationship between the two individuals in the Sea of Trees was integral to the story and presented a non western view of life, death and passing into the next phase of existence. The couples relationship is revisited throughout the film through flashbacks that tie the story together. Unlike many films I've seen, this one has left an impression when most don't.

I think it is an excellent movie for adults and mature people with some specific life experience.

I really don't understand how this movie received such negative reviews. I am normally not into drama movies, but this had me interested the entire time. All the actors did an amazing job and this movie literally made me ball my eyes out. The only thing that I can even think of that would give it negative reviews is the topic, but it is definitely were seeing.

I'm sorry to see this film reviewed so negatively. It's true, the tempo of the film is quite slow, but Gus' talent for creating powerful imagery shines through and holds the viewer to the end. If you are a Gus Van Sant fan, this is not one to miss.

Racconto che naviga tra la fantasia e la realtà; intorno alla mistica foresta di Aokigahara. La depressione di un vedovo si trasforma in una lotta per la sopravvivenza una volta incontrato l'enigmatico Ken Watanabe. Trama originale, ben interpretata e con un buono spazio lasciato a fotografia ed effetti sonori. Il finale è originale e allo stesso tempo delicato cosi come tutto il film.

I think this film is still underestimated. It is acted subtly but wonderfully by all three main characters and never gets boring. It is, in my opinion, a very successful, entertaining analysis of a worn-out relationship. Sadness, anger, dissatisfaction with living side by side... And this movie shows how much we lose our interest in the small facets of our life partner along the years, even though those little things that make us who we are are extremely valuable to explore. As long as it is possible to do.

Very slow story but I found it somewhat interesting. It kind of peters out at the end but I enjoyed it.