Movie Review – The Man Who Planted Trees
The Man Who Planted Trees is a beautifully animated short film based on Jean Giono’s classic story. It follows Elzéard Bouffier, a humble shepherd who quietly dedicates his life to planting thousands of acorns in a barren valley. Over the course of decades, his simple, faithful work transforms a desolate landscape into a thriving forest, bringing water, wildlife and new life back to the land. Without seeking recognition or reward, Bouffier demonstrates how one person’s steady commitment can renew an entire ecosystem.
The film is a powerful reminder that lasting transformation rarely happens through dramatic moments. Instead, it grows through small, consistent actions repeated day after day. Bouffier cannot control the weather, the wars that pass around him or how others respond. He simply focuses on the next seed to plant, trusting that the results will come in time.
Recovery asks us to live with that same spirit. The Twelve Steps teach us that spiritual growth is not achieved all at once but through daily practices of honesty, surrender, inventory, amends, prayer and service. We cannot force immediate change in ourselves or anyone else. As the saying often heard in recovery reminds us, “We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.” (AA p. 60)
Like Bouffier, we are invited to let go of outcomes and simply do the next right thing. One prayer, one meeting, one amends, one act of kindness may seem insignificant on its own, but over time these small acts reshape our inner landscape. What once felt barren through addiction, resentment or fear can slowly become fertile ground where hope, peace and joy take root.
The Man Who Planted Trees offers a quiet but profound vision of recovery. It reminds us that when we faithfully tend the soil of our own spiritual lives, trusting God with the harvest, our transformation may extend far beyond ourselves. Just as one man restored a forest by planting one tree at a time, we participate in God’s healing work by living the principles of the Twelve Steps one day at a time.
Review by Marla.