Days of Heaven

Days of Heaven - 1978 (HQ Trailer)

Cinematography

How mobile is the camera? Does it move toward the characters within a scene, or does it remain relatively static, allowing the actors to move instead within a steady frame?

The camera is not mobile at all, and you can tell because there are no "shoulder shots" where it looks like the camera is following a person. Therefore, it remains relatively static, allowing the actors to move instead within a steady frame.

How does the camera treat the different characters? Does the camera view the character from below (low-angle shot) or from above (high-angle shot)?

The camera treats the different characters by their roles and the plot. The camera often views the characters from above, when it is shooting characters that are relatively close together (couples, family, relatives, etc) while it shoots the other characters from below (low-angle shot) if the characters are not close, such as co-workers of the farm.

What purpose does the camera angle serve? For example, what cue might a camera angle offer you about how the director wants you to view a particular character?

The camera angle has a purpose that serves the impression of the character's personalities. A good example was when the director shot the lady's face zoomed-up because that was the scene where the man fell in love with the lady, so the director wanted to emphasize her pretty face.

What do the camera angles tell you about the relationships between characters?

The camera angles tell you about the relationships between the characters because when the scene is a close-up on the characters, it basically means that the characters are close with each other. Therefore, when the camera is shooting the workers farming together, it shot it from a long shot, so you cannot see each person's face.

Do the angles from which characters are shot change over the course of a scene, or a sequence, or the film as a whole? How does such a change influence your view of a character?

The angles from which characters are shot change over the film as a whole. This change influenced my view of a character because you can tell if the character is a protagonist or an antagonist. You can even tell if the characters share a bond between them or not by the camera angles because it sets a distinctive mood.

How frequently are close-ups used? Why? What is the effect of the close-up?

Close-ups are not frequently used in this film since the whole entire film was taken mostly at the 'golden hour', so you cannot exactly see the character's facial expressions. However, close-ups are used when the characters are falling in love, hating a lot on someone, stabbing someone, etc. (in other words, it is only used when viewers are curious of the character's expressions and emotions in the story). The effect of the close-up gives more emotional description to the viewers, since you cannot really tell every character's expressions, due to the shadows made on their faces.

Music & Sound

How does the degree of familiarity with the music influence your understanding of the plot or the characters?

The degree of familiarity with the music influence your understanding of the plot or the characters by a lot. A good example was the famous classical music that was played in the beginning of the film. This song was well-known for its 'mysterious' or 'strange' feeling that you get while you are listening to it. Since it started off with this music, the viewers may have had the feeling or have even expected a strange intro to the movie as well, such as when the first few scenes were when the man murdered his boss at the workplace.

What cues does the music give you about what to expect?

The music gives you cues about what to expect, such as intense music building up when there is a suspenseful scene coming up. It is basically foreshadowing the next scenes to the viewers so their fear will build up as well as the music.

What kind of mood does the soundtrack create?

The soundtrack overall creates a lonely, depressing mood throughout the whole movie. The music played are often mellow, and slow.

What kind of sound effects are used in the film? Do they arise from the action or are they added to the action?

Sound effects such as the surprising, suspenseful effects are used in the film at some points, such as the scene where two mans fight each other for the girl. The sound effects arise from the action at most times, and they are often not added to the action. Since the sound effects are not exactly added to every action, the actions throughout the whole entire movie seems 'natural', and not forced/artificial at all.

How does the use of music and sound influence your interpretation of the plot or your attitudes toward particular characters?

The use of music and sound influence my interpretation of the plot by setting a rhythm or a flow to everything. Since the music and sounds that are used throughout the film was neat and slow, it gives you this interpretation that the plot will be mellow as well. The use of music and sound also influence my attitudes toward particular characters by setting their own theme. For example, when the scene was showing the happy family eating together outside, they would set a mellow, but an optimistic music to the background. This changes your whole attitude toward the different characters throughout the movie.

Closure

Does the film reach a satisfying end?

No, the film does not reach a satisfying end because it seemed like there was a new beginning of another story at the end, where the daughter and her friend walks on the train track, starting their new journey.

Does the film reach an ending you have anticipated/wanted?

The film does reach an ending that I have anticipated/wanted because the energetic daughter escaped from the orphanage, met up with her friend, and started their own little journey to find their family. However, it was not exactly something that I have expected and wanted completely, because it left you hanging at the end because you felt like you wanted to now watch a sequel of the movie, or at least another version of it where it is now narrating the journey of the two little girls.

Are all the threads of the plot tied up? What hasn't been resolved? (For example, are there any characters who are not paired up into a romantic couple at the end? Why not?)

Most of the threads of the plot was tied up in the end, except for some family member's plots, such as the daughter going on a journey with her friend (it feels like it did not tie up). The family members were all separated in the end, and some were not paired into a romantic couple at the end because the two man fought each other for the girl. Sadly, one of the man got stabbed by the other, so it was not exactly a happy ending with the relationships going on in the movie.