The Sea of Trees

The Sea of Trees, in the US on Kanopy and Hoopla, and in the UK on Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels, takes its characters as seriously as it takes its plot. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Matthew McConaughey anchors it with a performance that rewards close attention. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Kanopy.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Sea of Trees is worth clearing space for. The writing in The Sea of Trees treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. In Japan's Aokigahara Forest, a troubled teacher meets a mysterious lost stranger who takes him on a life-changing journey of love and redemption. Matthew McConaughey and Ken Watanabe lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. The Sea of Trees came out in 2016. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping everything up in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with The Sea of Trees. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Matthew McConaughey carries the material with a performance that rewards close attention. Worth starting sooner rather than later.

The Sea of Trees was released in 2016, directed by Gus Van Sant. The full 110-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.