Talking with students about Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life"

Here are some of the highlights of my experiences over the last 12 years with one of cinema's most ambitious and rewarding films.

After introducing a classroom full of Seattle Pacific University undergrads to Terrence Malick’s 2011 masterpiece The Tree of Life on Monday night, one of them remained scribbling notes through all of the end credits. When he finally rose and made his exit, he paused at the door, turned to me, and said something I’ll never forget.

Note: I'm recalling h…