Welcome to The Empathetic Imagination! This newsletter was born out of my interest in the relationship between the arts and spiritual formation, particularly the cultivation of empathy (which also led to my book). In this weekly newsletter, we will look at the connections between art, theology, and the hard work of being a loving, truthful human being. Thank you to all who subscribe, especially those who have opted for a paid subscription. This helps me to continue to do this work! Along with writing on the arts and theology, I will be offering some (non-credit) go–at–your-own–pace courses on these topics for paid subscribers.
Hi all,
This week’s film, Days of Heaven (1978), is a feast for the eyes and the spirit. Director Terrence Malick (1943-present) is known for creating lush, contemplative films –visual poems rather than plot-driven narratives. Like Run Lola Run, Days of Heaven has a very simply plot. But very much unlike Run Lola Run, Days of Heaven asks us to slow down, to watch the emergence of natural beauty juxtaposed alongside questions of cruelty, injustice, and falsehood. Malick’s films–including one of my all time favorite films, The Tree of Life– persuade us to be attentive, to look differently and more deeply into the beauty of the natural world and its connection to a transcendent reality.
We will have a live discussion of the film this Saturday, April 6, at 2 pm ET. We will be joined by Dutch film director, Jaap van Heusden! I am VERY excited about this!! The Zoom link will be sent to paid subscribers later in the week.
I cannot stress this enough: WATCH THIS FILM ON AS LARGE A SCREEN AS POSSIBLE! You can rent it on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Youtube, etc. It can be watched for free (with commercials) on Pluto.
Days of Heaven is set in 1916 in the Texas Panhandle. Its protagonists are Bill and Abby, a young couple in love; Linda, Bill’s little sister; and a wealthy, unnamed farmer. The film is rich in biblical allusions, most notably Genesis 20 and Exodus 10. I don’t want to give away too much about the very simple plot here. I want you to experience it for yourselves.
In an interview with Days of Heaven star Richard Gere, the actor comments on the centrality of moments created via the images in Malick’s films:
“Films are not about talk but about images and feelings, moments. It’s not even about story. In the end, we do not remember stories as much as a moment that somehow cuts through, like a dream image.”
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