The Sunrise Theater's SunFlix Series exists to bring the the widest range of artistic films to the community.

The month of September begins with a movie that perfectly fits that mission, "The Tree of Life," starring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Fiona Shaw and Jessica Chastain.

Directed by Terrence Malick, the acclaimed director of such classic films as "Badlands," "Days of Heaven" and "The Thin Red Line," this film has been described by one critic as "unlike anything you've ever seen before."

"The Tree of Life" premiered in competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm), the highest prize awarded at the festival (presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition).

This impressionistic story of a Texas family in the 1950s will be shown Sept. 1 and Sept. 3-5, with shows weekdays at 7:30 p.m. and weekends at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. (no show on Sept. 2 due to First Friday).

This highly acclaimed drama is rated PG-13 and runs for 127 minutes.

The following plot summary comes from the Rotten Tomatoes website: 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 (Brad Pitt). Jack (played as an adult by 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.

"The Tree of Life" opened in key cities to excellent reviews (80 percent positive) that at the same time were mixed (a few critics were clearly not enamored by the surrealist and experimental elements of Malick's directorial style).

Claudia Puig, of USA Today, called it "a shape-shifting film, it resembles a poem. At other moments, it is closer to a symphony. Most often, it approximates a fervent prayer. ... At its core, 'The Tree of Life' presents a profoundly affecting father-son conflict."

The historic Sunrise Theater, located at 250 NW Broad St. in Southern Pines, is nonprofit. Ticket prices are $7 for all shows.

Refreshments, including beer and wine, are available.

For more information about this film, or any activity at the Sunrise, contact the theater at (910) 692-3611 or go to www.sunrisetheater.com.