An impressionistic story of a Midwestern family in the 1950's the film follows the life journey of the eldest son Jack through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father (Academy Award nominee BRAD PITT). Jack (played as an adult by Academy Award winner SEAN PENN) finds himself a lost soul in the modern world seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith. Through Malick's signature imagery we see how both brute nature and spiritual grace shape not only our lives as individuals and families but all life.