Terrence Frederick Malick (born November 30, 1943) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He debuted in 1973 with an unusual psychological thriller Badlands. The film concerns a pair of teenagers who after committing murder run across the American wilds. The film initiated Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek’s acting careers. The first Malick film already had features which characterize his all artistic work: the combination of formal impetus with an admirable psychological realism. Also, showing the world as a peculiar connection of paradise and hell, the presence of religious-philosophical deliberations and metaphysical matters, together with a crucial role of the landscape characterize Malick’s films.

Then, his later film Days of Heaven, an unusual love story in a landscape of American noon, was awarded for direction at the Cannes Film Festival. Above all, this film was admired for Nestor Almendros’ pictures which are regarded as among the most beautiful in cinema history. Malick enthusiasts waited 20 years for his next film. The war epic Red thin line was released at around the same time as Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan which earned a lot Oscar nominations. However, only the adaptation of James Jones’ novel was discussed in terms of multidimensional and universal artistic work in which the war is a point of departure for a reflection on the significance of human life, the border between humanity and bestiality. Red thin line was awarded the Golden Bear and earned seven Oscar nominations. The main roles were played by top American actors: Jim Caviezel, Adrien Brody, Nick Nolte, Sean Penn, George Clooney, and John Travolta.

The newest Malick film Tree of Life divided the public and critics. The metaphysical fabric of the film surrounds visually a brilliant novel about childhood. The film is about knowing the world and creating bonds between parents and their children. Also, it concerns extreme feelings: love, envy, and hate. The Golden Palm at Cannes was given to Malick for his consistency of many years and his personal distinctive style.

Filmography:

1969 Lanton Mills (short)

1973 Badlands

1978 Niebiańskie dni / Days of Heaven

1998 Cienka czerwona linia / The Thin Red Line

2005 Podróż do Nowej Ziemi / The New World

2011 Drzewo życia / The Tree of Life