A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)

 Elia Kazan's "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"


The 1945 film "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" is most notable, to me, as the directorial film debut of famed director Elia Kazan. Beyond this, it is a relatively benign coming-of-age story with a lot of heart. That isn't to say I didn't like the film. In fact, it is one of the more tonally engaging Hollywood films from this era. 

The film centers on a young girl who lives with her poor family in Brooklyn. Through various economic downfalls, an alcoholic father, domestic tension, and other personal tragedies, the bright young girl tries to hold on to hope amidst all the hardship her and her family faces.

The film reminded me of something akin to the tone of Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" the following year. In the post-war landscape, the globe was traumatized by war and individuals were facing personal hardships. Films like "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" seemed to acknowledge these personal challenges through the personal challenges of a fictional character. In this case, it was a young girl trying to grow up in a challenging environment. While acknowledging these hardships, these kinds of films also encourage us to cling to hope regardless and to appreciate the people around us who support and love us. 

Overall, I found "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" to be an adequate film, nothing more or less. It felt somewhat of an Oscar-bait type film for the time period, despite its many good qualities. It is definitely not a film I would ever revisit, but I'm also glad I caught it the one time.



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