Places in the Heart

Paul Nelson

November 1, 2015

Book/Film Review

Places in the Heart

            If you were asked today to become a farmer, would you do it? In the movie Places in the Heart directed by Robert Benton, Edna Spalding (mother), is shown as a widow looking for a way to provide for her family. Edna meets a hobo black gentleman named Moses, who has experience with farming cotton. With no-where to turn for financial help, and the bank threatening to take her home from her; Edna decides to farm cotton. Relying on the word and experience of Moses, when Edna has no idea how to farm cotton. Even in Edna’s unfortunate situation, Places in the Heart depicts many benefits found in farming, some of these benefits include: sense of purpose, financial income/stability, and work ethic.

            Edna’s husband named Royce Spalding is a Sheriff of the town of Waxahachie, Texas. Upon sitting down for family dinner, gunshots are heard in the distance, later followed up with a knock at the door by the deputy inquiring for Mr. Spalding. Sheriff Spalding adheres to his duties and takes care of the problem. As he approaches the problem he realizes it is a young black boy drunk, shooting a gun randomly. Sheriff Spalding waits for the gun to empty of bullets, and then asks the boy if he is finished. The boy then turns the gun towards Sheriff Spalding and fires. The bullet hits and kills Sheriff Spalding.

 Edna’s world has now been turned upside down, in conversation with her sister Margarette she asked: “What is going to happen to us?” Edna was a widow and had to now provide for her family physically, emotionally, and financially. With Edna losing her husband, she lost her sense of purpose. Edna was determined to find her purpose in life again. She found that purpose when Moses knocked on her door, and she decided to plant, farm, and cultivate cotton. Through-out the movie Edna is happier when she is working, farming, and does not have to deal with the anguish of her dead husband and providing for her family financially.

            Farming gave Edna a financial stability in time of need. This movie takes place in 1935 during the Great Depression. The ability to find employment was very hard. “In 1935 the unemployment rate was 19.97 %”(United). Compared to “5.1% percent in 2014”(NCSL). For Edna to randomly plant cotton was a huge risk. There was a high rate that it would fail. Edna did not have another choice, as mentioned before, the bank threaten that if she did not pay her payments on her home she would have to sell the land. Edna and Moses tried their crazy plan of farming cotton. As they planted the cotton, the price of cotton dropped from six cents a pound to three and a half cents a pound. Because of that drop in price Edna would not have enough money to pay her payment on the house. Edna and Moses planted thirty acres of cotton and were able to get three dollars and seventy five cents from the buyer when they sold the cotton. The movie does not go into much detail on whether or not she was able to keep the house, or make the payment needed. What the movie did show is how excited and anxious Edna was about farming. Farming back then and for the most part today does not make you into a millionaire. Farming does make you a wage and for the most part it is stable. “The average wage annually in 2012 for a farmer was: $69,300” (Bureau). Of course there would be other variables contributing towards a successful and an unsuccessful crop or year; such as weather. Whether a farmer does become a millionaire or not, you know he is a hard worker.

            Places in the Heart did a very good job at showing how hard it really is to cultivate cotton. Edna was a very hard worker. She underestimated the time and effort it would take to pick cotton, as I am sure many would for the first time cultivating cotton. Edna wanted to win prize money for the first bale of cotton in the year nineteen thirty-five. The winner of this award was to receive one hundred dollars. Moses thought she was crazy to even think about doing such a thing. But…Edna did it. She, Moses, her children, and hired workers started picking to be able to make the dead line for the first bail.  As Edna, Moses, her children, and workers were shown picking cotton you could see the sheer pain they were in. Edna had cuts all over her hands and knees. In the movie they were shown picking all through the night trying to make the deadline. Edna was shown in tears as she picked cotton, obviously in terrible pain. Edna made the deadline, it is not clear whether she won the prize money or not. What was clear is Edna did something she never thought she could do. Just as I mentioned before, when she sold her cotton she talked with Moses about expanding her fields and planting more. Edna believed in herself that she could do more. I feel that is the same with all farming; especially with ancient farmers or farmers in Edna’s exact condition. Farming teaches you to work hard, persevere, and have never ending hope. The very first farmers to plant a crop had those same qualities, and I believe every farmer still has those qualities of working hard, persevering, and having never ending hope.

            In conclusion, Places in the Heart depicts many benefits found in farming, some of these benefits include: sense of purpose, financial income/stability, and work ethic. I really enjoyed the entire film. The movie taught me how excruciating it is to farm cotton and how hard times really were in nineteen thirty-five during the Great Depression. It also taught me how important farming is to our culture. Farming remained a constant help in time of need in nineteen thirty-five and it remains a constant today, and will remain a constant always.  

Work Cited:

"Unemployment Statistics during the Great Depression." United States History. Web. 16 Oct. 2015. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1528.html>.

"National Employment Monthly Update." NCSL. National Conference of State Legislatures, 2 Oct. 2015. Web. 16 Oct. 2015. <http://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/national-employment-monthly-update.aspx>.

"Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers." Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2015. <http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/farmers-ranchers-and-other-agricultural-managers.htm>.

Places in the Heart. Dir. Robert Benton. TriStar Pictures, 1984. Videocassette.