In The Sea of Trees (2016, USA), Arthur Brennan (Matthew McConaughey) goes to a Japanese forest to think about the unthinkable—death and dying, at his own hand.

Before he does, he meets a Japanese man who is wandering in the forest aimlessly. Arthur tries to save the man.

Both form a connection despite their lost lives.

The film flashbacks to moments in Arthur’s home life, which is on the rocks, his marriage teetering, and his wife is in trouble.

The center of good is Arthur wanting to help the lost Japanese man. Arthur’s a scientist so would egg on life rather than destroy it. So his attempt at suicide may seem implausible. However, Arthur is a character in the throes of complexity.

The movie is non-linear or not a straight forward story. Flashbacks back and forth, between scenes in the forest and what happened at home in Arthur’s life, indicate complexity.

At home, the arguments between Arthur and wife have believable dialogue.

The Sea of Trees keeps your eyes glued and interested in the outcome because of why Arthur is the way he is. I overlooked the far-fetched—Arthur’s meeting with the Japanese man and a pivotal scene near the end—because down the middle is the integrity of the story, which is well done.

The story

Japanese culture where suicide is prevalent, but which has to be controlled. So there is a forest for people when they are down to their last. They need to decide—life or death? These people are encouraged to choose life, as they walk through the forest.

Dying is around, in the forest, but the powers of life can be stronger, at least for one.

Why not the others? People have died by their own hand in the forest. If one can be saved, and not others, is not very well thought out. It makes the social aspect of the film incomplete; everyone can’t potentially be saved.

Though The Sea of Tree ‘s message to everyone watching this movie is good. The message is a positive resolution to a suicidal complex.

The Sea of Trees is showing us that life still can be worth living.

Saying that life is worth living because all the spiritual boxes must be ticked to be saved, is lacking something. People in these situations don’t need a check list to become better.

But if The Sea of Trees gives someone a glimmer of hope in a dark place, then their story may turn out for the better, than worse.