A Tree of Palme (Parumu no Ki) (2002)
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43% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
59% of users liked it
(342 ratings)
A futuristic take on the age-old tale of Pinnocchio, A Tree of Palme tells the tale of a wooden robot who longs to become human. Created by ageing Dr. Foe in order to care for his ailing wife, Xian, Palme slowly begins to learn about the human soul and the power of love. Despite the well-intending… More A futuristic take on the age-old tale of Pinnocchio, A Tree of Palme tells the tale of a wooden robot who longs to become human. Created by ageing Dr. Foe in order to care for his ailing wife, Xian, Palme slowly begins to learn about the human soul and the power of love. Despite the well-intending robot's best efforts, Xian eventually dies of a heart attack and Palme becomes sullen and withdrawn. A passing female warrior later gives Foe a magical bowl from the land of God on the agreement that he will transport it to the underground city of Tamas, and though the old man promises to fulfill her wishes, he is subsequently slain by one of Koram's adversaries. Requesting that Palme fulfill the mission as death approaches, the nurturing robot must now leave the comfort of his home and embark on a journey that will teach him the true meaning of humanity and the human spirit. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Directed By
- Taikashi Nakamura, Takashi Nakamura
- Genres
- Animation, Anime & Manga, Art House & International, Science Fiction & Fantasy
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 2002 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Jeff Shannon, Seattle Times
Hints of greatness are subverted by frenetic plotting and sensory overload.
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G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle
It's visually creative, but doesn't stand out among other animes, and its 136-minute running time is about 30 minutes too long.
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Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
Measure for measure, none of A Tree of Palme really goes anyplace that fairy tales or anime haven't previously been.
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Pete Vonder Haar, Film Threat
Very deserving of attention.
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Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle
A heady, dense metaphor for everything from the struggle for self-knowledge and personal growth to the aging process.
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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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