MovieChat Forums > Places in the Heart (1984) Discussion > Confusing ending...?

Confusing ending...?

posted 17 years ago by bossyheifer
19 replies | jump to latest

I just saw this movie last night and really enjoyed it. The ending really baffled me though. I saw on another thread that Edna is dreaming in the end. Well that means that the scene with Margaret and Wayne reconnecting during the reading of love's virtues is meaningless because she doesn't seem to know anything about their problems in the movie. Plus, why would she dream about her husband's shooter when she (to the watcher's knowledge) didn't even know who he was? And I was hoping that Moses being there meant she had let him stay but I guess not? I just didn't get the end, does anyone have a better explanation than a dream or is that really it?

bossyheifer
"Yeah, ooo, ahhh, that's how it always starts. But then there's runnning and...screaming"

[–] Snoopy353 17 years ago

I remember discussing the ending in English class back in high school, personally, I think it's a final bow by the actors, like at the end of the play. Some people noticed that only the dead people said "peace" as they took communion, maybe that meant something, I don't know. Maybe it tied into the overall theme of the movie, which was forgiveness.

"We're here! We're clear! We don't want any more bears!" -Homer Simpson

[–] gribfritz2 12 years ago

Some people noticed that only the dead people said "peace" as they took communion

They must have been noticing wrong. I distinctly remember Frank saying it. I took a look back and here are the people that say "peace of God"

lady in red hat (don't know who, likely someone small in the film, but who else died?)
Car lady (dead)
Frank
Edna
Sheriff (dead)
Wiley (dead)

The fact that Frank and Edna say it rips the theory to pieces though.

[–] lara_hauser 17 years ago

As a Christian, I understand this ending in light of the act of Communion. In my faith tradition (Presbyterian,) Communion is not just eating a little bread and sipping a little bit of grape juice. It is an act that lifts up the congregants to the Holy Banquet, which is attended by all the saints, both the living and those who have "gone on the glory." That is, when I take Communion at my church, I believe that I am not just surrounded by my fellow worshippers, but that I am mystically lifted up to join my late grandparents, my college friend who died in a climbing accident, as well as saints through the ages such as Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., Abraham Lincoln, John Clavin, etc.--you get the idea. We are all brought together by the saving love of God in Jesus Christ. To me, that explains how Margaret and Wayne could be reconciled, how both her husband and his shooter could be there, and it explains the presence of Moses, who had moved on. It does not necessarily mean that they are all dead. It is a beatiful illustration of the amazing power of God's forgiveness for all people, in all times.

[–] pfan-2 16 years ago

Laura,
I agree with most of what you say regarding Communion and who is present with believers when taking communion. But I believe in the movie there are 5 saints in the church at the end. If you look at the shot of the congregation at the beginning of the service in that final scene none of the 5 saints are in the congregation. As communion is passed you notice first the husband and wife that were killed in the storm. If you remember they invited little Frank into their car as he ran home from school and were shown dead in their car after the storm. The next two saints were Frank (the husband killed in the beginning) along with his killer the young black man who accidently killed Frank. The final saint shown is Moses, the Danny Glover character. In the scene where the KKK attacks Moses outside the barn the KKK member (the man that ran the cotton gin company) tells glover as he lays on the ground, I ain't through with you yet. That is what prompts Moses to go ahead and leave town. He knows they will be back. I read the fact that he is in chruch, with the other saints means he didn't make it out of town alive. There is no way in the 1930s in the south that a black drifter would be attending an all white church. The screen writer was making a statement of faith in the way this movie ended and how unusual is that . . . Hollywood making a statement of faith. The unfortunate thing is that very few people recognize what was meant by that final scene.

[–] ranuflash 16 years ago

my english class just finished this movie up. We had a really long discussion about the final scene. In the Movies first scene it starts out with a view of the church, and by showing the church at the end, its effectively wrapping up this story. Right before they do the sort of sliding shot going from person to person, the pastor talks about love and how it is ment to be shared by all, given as a great gift. Here it can be split of into two ways. Firstly as it shows the banker and possibly the person who sold seeds to her. That goes straight to racism. Then the second is showing the ideal way that the world shouldve been. When your taking communion your all connected together, sharing the love through God. All of those characters should have treated each other equally. In away it goes right back to the title, places in the heart.

[–] jakob3 12 years ago

Since the Sally Field character did not know all that this scene shows (i.e.,
about her husband's killer, & about the adultery-marred marriage of the Crouse & Harris characters), then it cannot be Places in HER Heart. I believe it depicts
"Places in God's Heart"--The final scene is God's desire, the Heavenly Eucharist.

[–] janfizz 7 years ago

I had the same feeling-it's like a pebble thrown in a pond-many waves are made-each act that we make affects others and I think that is what the movie is showing-all of this began with the shooting- many waves come from it-which is the movie.....

[–] gribfritz2 12 years ago

The ending is confusing, but something sheds light on it. It may seem confusing that when they first show the people in the church all the way up to when they take communion, many of them are different than they are when they're taking communion. There are many more when taking communion. It's obvious when they show Ed Harris, with empty seats behind him, cut to the choir beginning to sing, cut back to Ed Harris and there are three people in the pew behind him.

Reflecting on this, and also noticing that the seat next to Malkovich is empty and several next to Field are also vacant, I would theorize that what we see when we first see the church is reality. When they're taking communion, these empty spots are filled with many who are not actually there, like the dead and Moze (and the banker and the guys from the band, etc...).

Or it could just be terrible editing since all people NOT principles in the movie that they've originally shown are replaced by other people. But I don't think they planned on people DVRing it and rewinding.

[–] cousinoleg 12 years ago

The ending it seems to me as a christian, is about the future in the
Kingdom of God, or heaven, where those who have believed in Lord Jesus Christ, are forgiven of their sins (like the adulterous husband and his wife are shown reconciling) and are given rest, by his sacrifice on the cross - notice how everybody is drinking that wine, which symbolizes the blood of Jesus, which also the preacher reads about:

"..This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins..." (see Gospel of Matthew 26:26-29)

In God's kingdom there is no difference between being black or white, while in this world in the 30s USA there was segregation, so obviously this wasn't the local church, since Mozes and Wylie, both black are there, and Edna's husband and his killer and other dead people, are there alive.

Hopefully people interested in the promise of forgiveness of sins, eternal life and peace, will read the New Testament to obtain these by faith in Lord Jesus Christ.

[–] bradford-1 11 years ago

I'm confused. Did I miss something, but why wouldn't Edna have known who her husband's killer was? It was a small town and she obviously would've known the kid had been lynched.

"May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?"

[–] krasiva-vida 10 years ago

Exactly. Her husband called him by name as soon as he saw him.

[–] Blueghost 10 years ago

She's not dreaming. Part of it is a curtain call by the director and actors. The other is to acknowledge a kind of spiritualism that many religious folks, probably including the author and director (and perhaps even the actors) believe exists.

Me, I thought it was a very fresh and reassuring artistic flourish and a nod towards the possibility of a higher order than what we experience. I think in a reality vein it's complete and utter nonsense, but it's a kind of acknowledgement that the whole course of events was set off by a tragedy that no one wanted to happen, and that because of that, "all is forgiven" so to speak.

In short, Sally Field's husband and his shooter are supposed to be ghosts.

[–] monkeymechx 10 years ago

I just want to point out to everyone that she did see her husband's killer when the good old boy brigade dragged the body out in front of her house.

[–] rc-108 10 years ago

The movie was pretty good..
but the ending caught me by surprise.

some good thoughts on the meaning.
thanks.

a real tearjerker ending...
it was really nice seeing Wylie and the sheriff seated next to each other.

[–] taylorje 9 years ago

Watch the movie again. Edna knew who had shot her husband. The men who brought his body home would have told her and even if they hadn't, she saw the body of the killer dragged behind the truck.

It wasn't a question of her "letting" Mose stay; he knew he had to get away as soon as possible for his own safety. If Edna had returned just a few minutes later, he would have been gone. She knew he had to leave; notice how she didn't ask him to stay?

[–] FourMysteries 9 years ago

It's a very symbolic Christian scene. First, recall that the opening scene is in the same place. Then throughout the movie the church is shown after (or before) significant events. Finally, it concludes in that same church. Why?
1) the church represents God in our life (beginning, throughout, end, AND beyond/next world) and that He is present in both the good and bad times. Solid like the steeple made of stone that was peppered throughout the film.
2) The final scene: Viola and her husband are leaving town; she wants out b/c she cant get her own way. Recall how upset she was when she discovered Wayne had made love to his wife prior to the party. Viola was jealous, angry, lustful, and self centered. She cant enter the Church, even after looking at it as they drive by. She is running from God due to her vices.
3) Meanwhile in the church we see Wayne front and center w/ his wife. As the preacher
begins reading from Corinthians about love, Wayne's wife makes a gesture of forgiveness to him. He responds humbly. Perhaps they are both reminded of their wedding day, since that is the standard reading for church weddings?
4) And then after a song of praise, the communion tray is brought forth. And the words of the last supper are read. Those words of communion are the root of the love spoken of in Corinthians.
Jesus is the groom, the Church is his bride. All connected by communion and by our places in His heart. Notice that Moze is in a nice suit and not bruised? Or that the people killed in the car during the tornado are there and "not crazy" as their sign (in the beginning
of the movie) had said. Finally, we see the Sherif and Wiley, sharing too in communion. Did you notice the expressions on their faces? In 1930's Texas would you have black and white people of all socio-economic backgrounds together is church? No way, despite the fact that it (the church) represents God's house.
However, through the love and sacrifice of Jesus all are welcomed into communion with God, all is forgiven. And those present in the final scene have had that realization. Very powerful stuff indeed.

[–] nancy-mitrione 9 years ago

This is one of my favorite endings of a movie. I took it to mean that people have made mistakes but at the end we are all together. Doesn't matter if you are black or white. It was sad all around. The young boy did not mean to shoot her husband and he did not deserve to die in that manner. Plus Moses was a good man and it was a shame that he had to leave town. It was like everyone forgave each other at the end and made amends.

[–] Who (5146) 4 years ago

Yes, this sums it up quite well. This film has a theme of healing and community throughout. The tornado came, they repaired the damage. The marriage of the sister was torn apart, but was never broken. The blind man, cast out as an invalid, became a hero (rescuing Blossom, scaring off the KKK). A black drifter with mad cotton growing skills also a cast out but helps a widow save her home and farm. In the end, the characters take Communion together, a symbol that they are at peace with one another and sit together as equals at God’s table.