Film Review: 'Trees Are Watching' Navigates AI Horrors and Deep Human Emotion
Bahman Ghobadi's latest cinematic endeavor, "Trees Are Watching," offers a unique blend of horror and cultural folklore, drawing inspiration from Kurdish tales where souls are said to inhabit trees and inanimate objects. The film features a captivating performance by Eva Green, who elevates a somewhat underdeveloped premise, alongside remarkable child actors whose contributions bring a vibrant energy to the otherwise chilling narrative. However, the film's reliance on often shoddy AI-generated imagery creates a jarring disconnect, undermining both its visual coherence and thematic depth, despite the executive production involvement of Martin Scorsese.
The narrative unfolds with Darya (Eva Green) returning to Mardin, Turkey, years after a childhood discussion of the tree-to-furniture reincarnation legend with her friends. Accompanied by her deaf, nonverbal daughter Connie (Neva Kuş), Darya embarks on anthropological research. Connie, a standout performer, injects a lively spirit into the eerie atmosphere as she begins to perceive unsettling sounds through her hearing aid. The presence of two towering trees outside their rented home, a modern extension of her childhood friends' residence, and an ornately carved chair that seems to move on its own, set the stage for a haunting exploration of Darya's past through vivid, though sometimes narratively unmotivated, flashbacks.
These flashbacks primarily delve into the upbringing of Darya's childhood companions, Nihal and Spin, under a troubled mother, subtly mirroring Darya's own struggles as a parent. Despite Green's dedicated portrayal, the film's potential for deeper thematic exploration is often overshadowed by the intrusive AI-generated sequences. These digital elements, employed even for establishing shots and connective scenes, particularly when Darya drives past felled trees, create an ironic contradiction to the film's environmental undertones. While Ghobadi demonstrates a sharp directorial eye for performance and staging, effectively framing intimate conversations and confrontations with an uncanny quality, the digital intrusions ultimately detract from the film's artistic integrity, transforming what could be a compelling horror story into a visually inconsistent and at times, frustrating experience.
In a world increasingly shaped by technology, "Trees Are Watching" serves as a potent reminder of the importance of human artistry and ethical considerations in creative endeavors. The film's ambitious attempt to intertwine ancient folklore with modern concerns about AI and environmentalism ultimately highlights the challenges of integrating new technologies without sacrificing narrative integrity and visual cohesion. Despite its flaws, the powerful performances and evocative themes prompt viewers to reflect on the nature of memory, trauma, and the evolving relationship between humanity and the digital realm.
