Terrence Malick
Terrence Malick’s ‘Days of Heaven’ (1978) is a transformative journey to watch. The poetic screenplay follows two lovers on the run after an accidental murder, as hot-tempered character Bill (Richard Gere) accidentally murders his fellow steel-mill worker in 1916 Chicago. As Bill flees from his crime, he also takes his girlfriend Abby (Brooke Adams) and 13-year-old sister Linda (Linda Manz) along to the Texas panhandle to work with the migrant workers and blend in with the golden wheat fields.
Within such dreamlike visions of cinema, we also are able to empathize with each character upon Malick's decision to reveal the rawness within each character: Bill's wounded look upon realizing that Abby has fallen in love with the Farmer; the Farmer's taut visage upon witnessing a romantic exchange between Bill and Abby; and the Farmer's eyes, full of desperation for love and companionship.
Days of Heaven
director TERRENCE MALICK
year 1978
director of photography NÉSTOR ALMENDROS, HASKELL WEXLER
cast RICHARD GERE, BROOKE ADAMS, SAM SHEPARD, LINDA MANZ and STUART MARGOLIN
words ELLEN GRACE
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