Reactions to "The Man Who Planted Trees"

[sonia]

amaebi and asakiyume recommended the 30 minute animated movie "The Man Who Planted Trees" to me, in reference to the power of labors of love. The animated art is great, and I agree that individual efforts can make a big difference. At the same time, I was uncomfortable with some of the underlying messaging. I don't want to harsh their squee, so I'm responding in my own space.

As someone who lives alone and runs a business alone, I'm uncomfortable with the explicit message that this man re-forested a whole valley alone without needing support from anyone. Where did he get his seeds? Where did he learn about each tree and what it needs to grow? Where did he get the iron staff that he used to dig holes? Even living as a hermit, it took a network of support to enable his work.

There is also explicit mention that he must have had some bulwark against despair, must have wrestled with his demons and won. If this were a true story, I would be very curious about the details. Since it is fiction, the author can mention that and move on. I think this is the crux of the story. We could all accomplish great things alone if we did not need emotional support, encouragement, commiseration, and celebration. I think it is disingenuous to handwave that missing piece.

I was surprised that the narrator of the story doesn't offer more material and emotional support for the project. I fully expected him to help with planting while he's there, at least. He remains a passive witness, except for enlisting a forestry official as an ally at one point.

At the end, I was uncomfortable with the explicit whiteness and goodness of the restored valley's new residents, in contrast with the misery, murders, and suicides of the few residents when it was barren, who are depicted with darker colors. No people of color to settle a beautiful valley in the Provençal Alps at all?


I suspect this is a Christian allegory in conversation with texts I'm unfamiliar with.