What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Days of Heaven is an award-winning 1978 story of a love triangle in the early 1900s that turns violent. While not gratuitous, the scenes of violence include murder, fist fights, shootings, and stabbings. For younger viewers, the more heady explorations of Social Darwinist survival, nature (Mother and human), and symbolism manifested through the change of seasons will probably go over their heads, but for viewers eager for films with deeper meanings and rare beauty, Days of Heaven is an unforgettable experience.
- Families can talk about symbolism. Where do some of the images and scenes seem to represent something more than what meets the eye?
- Why do you think Linda (the young girl) was the narrator in the film? How would the film have been different if it had been another character, or if there was no narrator at all?
- Talk about Bill and Abby's decision to trick The Farmer. Would you have made a different choice in their position?