By N
Days of Heaven (1978) is Terrence Malick’s second movie. Despite not being a wide-spread popular success, it won Malick the prix de Cannes for best director in 1979. Malick’s movies always come with anecdotes which make you admire him and his work even more – for example, most of the filming in Days of Heaven was made either in sunrise or sunset, with the final result being some magical lighting effects. Also, it took him 2 years of editing before releasing the movie. The result is astonishing with precision and beauty. Would I be wrong to say that one of the most important parts of making a movie is not shooting or directing actors but is editing. Malick clearly understands it and takes the matter seriously.
Today no one could contest that this movie is a classic you should add to your ‘10 (yes, 10) movies I should see before I die’ list. I don’t think you’ll watch it for the story though. In short: three siblings – a young Richard Gere, Brooke Adams and Linda Manz – run away from Chicago to work in a farm in Texas. Richard Gere and Brooke Adams pretend to be siblings when they are in fact lovers. Sam Shepard, the owner of the farm, falls in love with Brooke Adams and asks her to stay with him in the farm. Knowing that Shepard is dying from illness, Richard Gere asks Brooke Adams to be with him until he dies to inherit his fortune – she decides to stay in the condition that her siblings can too, and here begins a triangular love story. As you can imagine, it is not going to end well.
Apart from that, nothing much happens. One will also note the infrequency of dialogue, for most of the story is told through the narrative spectre of Gere’s little sister, Linda Manz. Having said that, this is not problematic, and you are not bored at all; indeed, the absence of dialogue is complemented by an absolutely stunning use of scenery. His strength is not to make things look intentionally attractive; that would be too easy and superficial. Prettiness is pointless when trying to flatter reality. His two major recurrent themes, which you can find in his movies such as The tree of life (2011) and To the wonder (2012), are more than ever present in this one: dominant nature and (despair of) humanity. Malick’s shots of imposing nature are incredible; his sense of aesthetics genuinely touches you – Everything is expressed through images and music. And this is where Malick excels.
This movie is undoubtedly a wonderful cinematographic experience. Watch it in the cinema if you can – but watch it in whichever way you can.
cucurbitacee 