When the first trailer arrived for Terrence Malick’s seventh feature film, Knight of Cups, it retained many of the traits that have become synonymous with the director throughout his reputable career. Evocative cinematography, poignant themes, not to mention a rousing soundtrack to boot, the footage wowed fans of the filmmaker without revealing too much in terms of plot.
Fast forward to today and we now have a detailed synopsis for Malick’s latest, following up on the esoteric snippet from a month ago, which offers a breakdown of Rick (played here by Christian Bale) and his journey through the Hollywood studio system. It is, for all intents and purposes, a character study on his protagonist, one who finds his own perception of happiness fluctuate as he encounters beauty, romance and all of those existential themes that Terrence Malick is renown for.
Joining Bale for the film are Cate Blanchett, and Natalie Portman. Terrence Malick’s Knight of Cups will pose existential questions aplenty when it launches later this year. For now, check out the comprehensive synopsis below for a sneak peek into Rick’s meandering journey.
Rick is a slave to the Hollywood system. He is addicted to success but simultaneously despairs at the emptiness of his life. He is at home in a world of illusions but seeks real life. Like the tarot card of the title, Rick is easily bored and needs outside stimulation. But the Knight of Cups is also an artist, a romantic and an adventurer.
In Terrence Malick’s seventh film a gliding camera once again accompanies a tormented hero on his search for meaning. Once again a voiceover is laid over images which also seek their own authenticity. And once again Malick seems to put the world out of joint. His symphonic flow of images contrasts cold, functional architecture with the ageless beauty of nature. Rick’s internal monologue coalesces with the voices of the women who cross his path, women who represent different principles in life: while one lives in the real world, the other embodies beauty and sensuality. Which path will Rick choose? In the city of angels and the desert that surrounds it, will he find his own way?
