The first-look of Terrence Malick’s upcoming Berlinale competition selection has been released.

Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Antonio Banderas, Brian Dennehy, parties, thunderous surf, lust, rejection, reflection, laughter, beach walks, isolation, hugs, second chances, orchestral sweeps, a haunting Bale voice-over… If that’s not enough for you then we give up.

FilmNation represents international rights and is reportedly close to selling out all territories. CAA and WME Global will jointly handle US rights in Berlin.

There follows a typically prosaic synopsis from the Malick camp:

“Once there was a young prince whose father, the king of the East, sent him down into Egypt to find a pearl. But when the prince arrived, the people poured him a cup. Drinking it, he forgot he was the son of a king, forgot about the pearl and fell into a deep sleep.

Rick’s (Christian Bale) father used to read this story to him as a boy.

The road to the East stretches out before him. Will he set forth?”

Will he? The producers might have a clue but they’re not telling and we’ll have to wait until February.

For the record the producers are Nicolas Gonda, Sarah Green and Ken Kao. Executive producers are FilmNation chief Glen Basner and Tanner Beard.