Cinema
Days of Heaven
Terrence Malick · 1978
Synopsis
Chicago, 1916. Bill, a steelworker, kills his foreman during an argument and flees by train to Texas with his partner Abby, whom he passes off as his sister, and his little sister Linda. All three hire themselves out for the wheat harvest on a rich farmer's land, a young and solitary man who falls in love with Abby. Bill overhears a doctor give the farmer only about a year to live, and urges Abby to marry him, telling himself that they will inherit.
Context
Filming took place in 1976 in south-western Alberta, in Canada, and a large part of the film was shot at the golden hour, those few minutes of low light at dawn and dusk. The cinematographer, Néstor Almendros, had to leave before the end for a prior commitment, and Haskell Wexler completed the shooting; it then took two years to finish the film. Linda Manz's voice was improvised long after the shoot: the actress watched the images and commented on what she saw.
Who it is for
A film of one hour thirty-four minutes, in colour, commented in voice-over by the youngest of the three fugitives.
Prizes and reception
Academy Award for Best Cinematography for Néstor Almendros in 1979, and the Best Director prize at the Cannes Film Festival the same year.
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