The Giving Tree "an alternative approach based on Shel Silverstain's book"

Once upon a time inside a white room, there was a white apple tree and she loved a little boy. Every day the boy would come to see the tree and its spirit while dreaming of one day ruling a whole wide world. The boy grew up, fell in love, and ate the forbidden fruit. Did he take the right decision? The descendants of the boy with the clipped wings fight in a dystopian tomorrow for fresh air. Will the "giving tree" protected in glass be able to give oxygen and hope for tomorrow? The earth is being destroyed by ruthless Earthmen in the name of money.
"When the last tree has been cut down when the last river has been polluted, then man will understand that money is not eaten." Cree Indian proverb

  • Eleni Pavlidou
    Director
  • Eleni Pavlidou
    Writer
  • Eleni Pavlidou
    Producer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Το Δέντρο που έδινε "μία αλληγορία εμπνευσμένη από το παραμύθι του Σελ Σιλβερστάιν"
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    enviromental, avant-garde, dystopian fiction, abstract, cli-fi, film adaptation, climate change, innovative, expirimental, progressively radical, bolt
  • Runtime:
    35 minutes 1 second
  • Completion Date:
    March 13, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    700 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Greece
  • Country of Filming:
    Greece
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - School of Drama Faculty Of Fine Arts Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki
Director Biography - Eleni Pavlidou

I was born in Drama (Greece) in 1996. I graduated School of Drama Facualty of Fine Arts (Aristotle University Thessaloniki) and specialised in Set and Costume Design.

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Director Statement

This movie displays the relationship between the spirit of an apple tree and a boy (based on the two main characters of Shel Silverstein's book, "The Giving Tree"), a parable for earth and humanity. This parable attempts to portray the abusive relationship existing between humans and their surrounding environment.

On a professional level, this movie seeks to raise awareness of the environmental abuse that current societal behavior has.
On a personal level, this movie is influenced by an early childhood memory, that of my mother reading me the book this movie is based on ("The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein).

My younger self viewed the relationship of the two main characters, which this book speaks of, as motherly love. However, upon rereading this as an adult, my view changed to that of an abusive one, which triggered me to produce this movie.

This movie came to be as part of my university diploma project.