Watching Days of Heaven is like stumbling upon old photographs; the edges are tattered and browning, the colors faded, but the images are stunning and full of life. The landscapes and portraits of America’s past make nearly every scene worth framing as a photograph or reproduced as an oil painting. Terrence Malick’s story is simple: hardworking men and women trying to find their way and make an honest living during the turn-of-the-century. A story that is just as relevant today.
Gigolo Richard Gere stars as Bill, a steel laborer working and living in Chicago with his girlfriend Abby and sister Linda who also serves as the films charismatic narrator. They travel as a “family” with Abby and Bill acting as brother and sister to avoid gossip. Wanting more for themselves they escape to Texas to work on a farm. A love triangle forms between Abby, Bill and the terminally ill (and very wealthy) owner of the farm. Hoping to cash in on the sick man’s fortune Bill convinces Abby to marry the farmer; But before they can get used to their new lifestyle their story turns to tragedy, showing us that nothing in life is ever truly free.
“Nobody’s perfect. There was never a perfect person around. You just have half-angel and half-devil in you” - Linda
