The Tree of Blood
A troubled couple’s attempt to write their families’ history uncovers a labyrinth of forbidden desire, criminal secrets, and inherited trauma.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Dense
- Violence
- Moderate
- melancholic
- heightened
- passionate
- arthouse drama night
- spanish cinema marathon
What critics said
Critics found an ambitious, emotionally heightened family saga whose tangled relationships and nonlinear storytelling evoke Julio Medem’s earlier work, though its execution was uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Rebeca and Marc spend a weekend writing their parents' history, which becomes the film's central retrospective narrative.
The story connects hidden passions, Russian mob ties, infidelities, addiction, mental illness, and a childhood medical history across both families.
Nuria and Amaia revive a former passion while multiple marriages and partnerships fracture under affairs and betrayals.
Amaia writes a novel about the Russian mob to reveal the truth surrounding Olmo, Víctor, and their families.
Films like The Tree of Blood, and why
The House of Spirits
intergenerational family secrets, forbidden passions, nonlinear storytelling, and heightened melodrama
The Skin I Live In
a sprawling family saga shaped by sexuality, betrayal, trauma, and magical-realist emotional intensity
Lovers of the Arctic Circle
intricate relationship networks, buried histories, infidelity, and psychologically heightened Spanish drama
Volver
ensemble melodrama focused on family wounds, concealed identities, and emotionally charged revelations
Movie Details
- Director
- Julio Medem
- Release Date
- 2018-10-31
- Runtime
- 130 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (162)
Cast
- Álvaro Cervantes
- Úrsula Corberó
- Najwa Nimri
- Patricia López Arnaiz
- Daniel Grao
- Joaquín Furriel
- María Molins
- Emilio Gutiérrez Caba
- Luisa Gavasa
- Josep Maria Pou
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Tree of Blood about?
- A troubled couple’s attempt to write their families’ history uncovers a labyrinth of forbidden desire, criminal secrets, and inherited trauma.
- What is The Tree of Blood like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Tree of Blood as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as dense.
- Is The Tree of Blood violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Tree of Blood as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Tree of Blood?
- Critics found an ambitious, emotionally heightened family saga whose tangled relationships and nonlinear storytelling evoke Julio Medem’s earlier work, though its execution was uneven.
- Which films are like The Tree of Blood?
- Films with a similar feel include The House of Spirits, The Skin I Live In, Lovers of the Arctic Circle, and Volver.
- How long is The Tree of Blood?
- The Tree of Blood runs 130 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Tree of Blood?
- In United States, The Tree of Blood streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
