Places
in the Heart
(1984)
- Information at Internet Movie Database
- Themes
- Baptism
- The tornado (wind/pneuma and water) as baptism for Mr. Will. After the tornado he turns his attentions outward, realizes that he cares for the family and becomes part of the community.
- Community
- The black community pitches in to help get the cotton crop in on time.
- Final Eucharist shows the relatedness of all in the town, no matter how at odds or far away they seemed during the story.
- Confrontation with
Evil
- Edna insists on fairness and justice when she brings the cotton crop into town.
- Conversion
- Change in Mr. Will's character from being self-centered and obsessed with his disability and sacrifice, to caring for others and becoming part of the community.
- Courage
- Edna's courage as she defies those who would exploit her because she is not married.
- Moze's courage as he defies those he knows can harm him.
- Determination,
Endurance
- The determination of Moze and Edna to get the crop in on time.
- Edna's determination to keep her family together.
- Eucharist/Communion
- Final Eucharist scene - reconciliation and interconnectedness between characters in the story.
- Friendship
- Developing friendship between Edna and Moze.
- Friendship between Mr. Will and Possum.
- Interconnectedness
- Final Eucharist scene - reconciliation and interconnectedness between characters in the story.
- Mother types
- Edna's courage and determination to help her family survive and keep them together. Her desire to protect those within her community/family.
- Overcoming
Obstacles
- Edna and Moze overcome storm and difficulties raised by others in order to bring in the crop.
- Reconciliation
- Final Eucharist scene - reconciliation and interconnectedness between characters in the story.
- Sacrifice
- Moze is beaten and forced to leave town because of his care for Edna and her family.
- Seeing/Not
Seeing
- Mr. Will learns to "see" a different reality after the "baptism" of the tornado (wind/spirit and water). (Malkovich is said to have played that part not by wearing a blindfold and practicing being blind, but by looking into himself at the places where he himself is blind.)
- Baptism
