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Rating: 4.25 out 5
Has anything ever happened to you where you have to forgive someone? Is there a place in your heart that will help you forgive or have compassion for another or a situation? The heart is a fascinating organ that pumps blood but also shows love for others. What would you do if your spouse was taken and you had to survive with the help of others?
Places in the Heart follows Edna Spalding (Fields), a mother of two kids during the Great Depression in Texas who is forced to take charge of her farm after the death of her husband with the help of some unique characters. Set in the spring of 1935 in Waxahachie, Texas, Edna and her two kids, Frank and Possum (really? You named your kid after a rodent) life suddenly changes when her husband is killed by accident by a drunk black teenager. The town takes their revenge on the boy. Edna soon learns that she is ill-prepared to handle many family responsibilities, and the financial issues of paying the mortgage are coming up. Banker Alber Denby (Smith) is a dick and advises her to sell the farm despite the depressed market. With nowhere else to go, Edna decides to keep herself and her kids where they know as home. While pondering what to do, a black stranger, beggar Moze Hadner (Glover), gives her advice to farm cotton even though Edna has no idea how to farm cotton, but Moz does, and Edna decides to hire him to be her sole farmhand. A minor financial relief comes when Will (Malkovich) is dropped off at the house by Mr. Denby because he is blind, a loner, and doesn’t want to look after him anymore. The three form a friendship to save Edna and her home.
Places in the Heart is a movie that you will either love or dismiss easily. Honestly, the only reason I watched it was because it was the movie where Sally Fields won her Academy Award and did the whole “You like me. You really like me” speech.
After watching the whole film and pondering for a while about it, I thought the movie was okay and had moments that pulled at your heartstrings. I guess that is the central theme of the whole film. Can you have a place in your heart to forgive or see that someone is trying to help you or other stuff people say if something happens to you? A couple of stories intertwine to show the growth in someone’s heart.
Let’s take Sally Field’s Edna Spalding, a young woman during the Great Depression in Texas. Her world is changed upside down when her husband, a sheriff in the town, leaves dinner because a drunk black boy named Wylie is shooting a gun. Royce knows Wylie and seems friendly until Wylie aims the gun and accidentally shoots and kills Royce. Here Edna could hate all black people for taking away her husband and even income. Yet, when Moses comes along and helps around the house, she is kind but rejects his help. Even when he steals from her, she stands up for him. This shows that there is a place in her heart for Moses and others because, with Moses, she manages to get enough cotton to save her home, along with wanting Moses to stay even after he got beat up by the KKK.
Another story that adds to this plot and shows a place in the heart of people is with Mr. Will, the blind brother of the bank man who somewhat pawns him off and uses it as rent for Edna. Mr. Will fought in WWI and is a very proud man who likes to be alone. Yet, for his put-off attitude, he strikes up a friendship with Edna’s kids, Possum and Frank. He is there for them when Frank gets that whippin, and he is definitely there when the tornado comes through and saves the kids. He was truly there for when the KKK came after Moses and told each one who they were.
I will say saving Edna’s farm is the best part where you might cheer. Edna went through some shit with the bank and realized she could not make the next payment even if she sold all her cotton. The bank declines Edna’s request for relief, but she learns of an Ellis County contest: a $100 cash prize to the farmer who produces the first bale of cotton for market each season. After some back and forth with Moses and trying to pick over 10 acres of cotton, Moses recruits some people, and they manage to gather all that cotton in time. Moses coaches Edna on negotiating with the seller, so the buyer won’t cheat her.
Now the other side stories were just a straight-up bore. Edna’s brother-in-law admits to his wife Margaret that he was carrying on an affair with a married school teacher. This whole storyline, to me, wasn’t needed because all the other storylines showed forgiveness and love. This one is one man can’t keep his tiny dick in his pants because he can’t keep both of them or love both of them. This would’ve been a great Maury show episode because Wayne, you are the father of that baby! It just threw off the whole movie and tried to add some drama. When you kill a black kid, that is enough drama.
I also want to say that you see the vast racial differences in how people are treated. In a scene almost similar to Emmett Till, the town, vigilantes, and lawmen kill Wylie and then tie his body to the back of the truck and drag it around the town. They even drive up to Edan’s house and seem to have no regard for the human life they have taken. The body is hung from a tree where Wylie’s family finally comes and gets it and holds a funeral. Royce’s body is brought to the house and gently placed on the table. The body is cleaned, and people come to the house to pay their respects. A stark difference that is even shown today.
Since I am not really a churchgoer, the ending was relatively symbolic and well put together because it showed forgiveness and belonging. As 1 Corinthians 13 followed by a sermon, the congregants are made up of everyone that pretty much appeared in the movie. As the plate is passed down the line, we see that the church is unsegregated. The closing scene focuses on the two people who started the movie with the deceased Sheriff Royce Spalding sitting next to deceased Wylie, who shot him, looking at each other and gently stating, “Peace of God,” as they take Communion. Very touching but no tears coming from these eyes.
The cast was one of the strongest points of this film. Sally Field as Edna Spalding was delightful as she was that woman who lost her entire world and just trying to find a way to survive. She has her mean moments and then ones where you’re like, “dude just saved your farm, and you starting to get greedy.” Danny Glover as Moses “Moze” Hadner was good as the black farmer who just wanted a place. The scene with him and Frank is funny as he complains and then gives the young boy a rabbit’s foot. Finally, John Malkovich as Mr. Will because he prided himself on taking care of himself and didn’t want anyone to pity him for being blind.
Like I said before, Places in the Heart is one of those films that you can watch and maybe get a little emotional over but can move on. The story is okay with it teaching forgiveness and helping each other out, but overall, it’s meh. The cast was outstanding, with Fields, Glover, and Malkovich being the highlights and strong points. Find a place in your own heart to watch this movie.
