The long wait for U.S. director Terrence Malick’s return to the screen ended on Monday with a mix of loud applause and jeers*, as his drama “The Tree of Life” appeared to split critics at the Cannes film festival.

    The drama, starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, tells the story of a southern U.S. family in the 1950s against a backdrop* of majestic* cinematography*, a sweeping* musical score and huge star power.

    At the end of the movie, in competition for a Palme d’Or prize for best picture and widely considered the most highly anticipated film to be presented at Cannes in years, a blend of loud applause and equally passionate jeers could be heard.

    But there were no doubters among Cannes’ fans, who screamed with delight when Pitt, flanked* by wife Angelina Jolie and Sean Penn, walked up the famous red-carpeted staircase to the main festival venue.

    And while early reviews of “The Tree of Life” have been mixed, its all-star Hollywood cast has injected a powerful dose of buzz to the Riviera festival after a glum* 2010 show.

    Much discussed was the absence of Malick himself on the red-carpet or the traditional post-screening news conference, which cast and friends attributed to shyness.

    “He is shy, he’s just very shy,” said French director Luc Besson. “He’s not far from here.”(SD-Agencies)