Winning d'Or at the Cannes did the trick

The Tree of Life, a new drama starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn grossed an estimated $352,000 during its opening weekend in a total of four theaters in New York and Los Angeles. Tree of Life had a long and twisted journey to the big screen. The films producer, Bill Pohlad, originally intended to open the movie in late 2009, but notoriously perfectionist director Terrence Malick wasnt done in time. Winning the Palme dOr at Cannes film festival really pushed the movie forward. Its per-screen average of about $88,000 is a record for a film released by Fox Searchlight, surpassing the $80,000 average for Black Swan last year.Tree of Life isnt the only film feeling the Cannes glow. Woody Allens Midnight in Paris, the festivals opening-night film, did a good business in its second weekend.