HEARTLAND

US, 1979, 96 minutes, Colour.
Rip Torn, Conchata Ferrell, Barry Primus, Lilia Skala, Megan Folsom, Amy Wright,
Directed by Richard Pearce.

Heartland is small budget, localised Americana, paying tribute to pioneer ranchers in Wyoming, but with universal appeal in its basic themes of dignity, work, courage, devotion, love, birth and death, so tellingly presented. The photography and screen compositions are reminiscent (in style and quality) of Days of Heaven. The ranch way of life is presented with a rugged and beautiful simplicity of The Tree of Wooden Clogs. Performances are excellent. Conchata Ferrel gives one of the most persuasive screen portrayals of a good woman and Rip Torn is at his restrained best as the Scots pioneer. Lilia Skala offers sturdy warmth as the widow rancher and Megan Folson is a convincing little girl. Humane, sensitive, strong. The screenplay is based on the letters and books of the central character, Elinore Randall Stewart.

1. The impact of this film for American audiences, those living in the region portrayed? The impact for overseas audiences? A story fixed in a particular location but with universal appeal?

2. The qualities of regional film-making, the background of grants from Montana and local interest and talent. The Hollywood stars, and their contribution? A successful blend of Hollywood film-making with local endeavours?

3. The focus of the title and its suggestion? This country at the core of American development and growth in the 20th. century? The portrayal of the American heritage? The ranching territory in the period after the Indians and the opening up of the west in the 19th century? The turn of the century and modernisation? The portrayal of Wyoming, its remoteness, vastness and difficulties? The lifestyle of ranching? The small towns and their way of life, the ranchers, the pioneer society? Constant and hard work? Pride in achievement? Human feeling and sensitivity, nobility, courage and endurance? The film based on the memoirs of the central character?

4. The quality of the colour photography - the capturing of Wyoming landscapes, beauty and harshness? The seasons? The interiors of the rancher's home? The audience invited to enter into this world, experience it, feel that they have been there?

5. The beauty and simplicity of the way of life of the ranchers? Scenes of cooking, housekeeping, farming, the treatment of the cattle, slaughtering of the pigs, birth and death, joy and hardship?

6. The focus on Elinore? The advertisement during the credits? The journey to Wyoming and the audience entering into this world with her and Jerrine? Sharing her discovery, the hard work, the difficulty of communication, liking Stewart, her loving him and committing herself to him and the land? A strong woman physically and spiritually? Her widow's status, her love and care for her daughter? Her capacity for hard work? Difficulties in communication but her learning to appreciate Stewart? The tender scenes with Jerrine - e.g. the singing, The Lord's Prayer, the ride on horseback to examine the land, the meals? The strong tenderness in Elinore? Her short-temperedness at times, severity - especially with Jerrine when she was edgy? Her hopes for independence? The encounter with Grandma and the sturdy support? The sequence with the ranchers out treating the cattle? Clashes with Clyde? Friendship with Jack? The scouting out of the land. the encounter with Clara Jane and helping her bury her husband, helping her with her pregnancy? The later visit and the joy in seeing the baby (even after the death of her own)? The build-up to filing for the land, Clyde's proposal? Her consent and the wedding sequence - even in her apron? The build-up to the winter, the cattleman and Clyde's not selling, her pregnancy, her inability to do all the work and defending Jerrine? The anxiety about Grandma coming for the delivery? Her delivering the baby herself - joy,' the tender sequences with the child, the fever, the pathos of the death and burial? Her moodiness after the child's death - at the clothes line and her collapse? Grandma's arrival and her expressing her grief? The importance of the birth of the cow and its difficulty, Elinore helping Clyde? The final frame - indication of new birth and hope? How successful the portrait of an American woman?

7. Jerrine - the new generation, a nice little girl (would she have her mother's strength?), her coping with the move, love for her mother, her being moody, the bond with Clyde and learning to deal with the horses, friendship with Jack and the games? The prayer sequence with her mother? Her experience of the birth of her brother, the death and her mother's moodiness? The significance of seeing her wandering from the house at the end of the film?

8. Clyde and his Scots pioneering background, severity and stinginess, coping, working with Jack, taciturn, ordering Elinore about? His skills in his work - with the cattle, with the men, the slaughter of the pig? His proposal to Elinore and the joy of the wedding sequence? His refusal to sell the cattle - and the consequences of the cattle dying, not enough feed, Jack's departure? The harshness of the winter? The journey to find Grandma and his failure? His reaction to the birth of the child, his joy? His harshness towards Jerrine b-t being a father to her? The pathos of the death of the child and his burying it? The temptation to give up, Elinore's support? Working with her at the birth of the cow? The portrait of an American pioneer?

9. Jack and the sketch of the ranch worker, working for Clyde and for Grandma, friendship with Jerrine, his wandering to Mexico? His return? His place in the household at meals, at the wedding? Friendship and loyalty?

10. The sketch of Grandma Landauer - her story. the death of her husband, her capacity for hard work? Her physical appearance and strength., despite age? Her friendship with Elinore and supporting her? Her being out on the ranch with the cattlemen? Her absence at the time of the birth ? Her final coming and supporting Elinore in her grief? A strong feminine presence in the pioneering society?

11. Clara Jane and her squalor, her husband's death, her washing? The later visit and her showing her child to Elinore?

12. The detailed portrayal of work, day to day life, marriage, birth and death? The importance of work and the dedication and skills of farmers and ranchers?

13. The importance of the visualising of the seasons - the harsh snow landscapes of winter? The length of the film given to the winter sequences - the cold, the fires, the rivers iced over, the dying cattle etc.? The audience with the characters hoping for spring and the chance for a new start?

14. The humanity of the film and its sensitivity - relationships, human dignity, the challenge of the ranching way of life?