The Magic Hour

A simple walk in the park today was so beautiful, as the light was so intense. I always look forward to this time of day during the winter. It inspired me to return home and search for the name of a film I have been trying to find for a couple of years. I found it and took the following description from the Magic Hour website. Now I just need to find a copy of the film.

"In 1978, Terrence Malick directed one of the most stunning and beautiful films ever made, the Oscar winning DAYS OF HEAVEN. The awesome photography (shot by cinematographer NESTOR ALMENDROS) was achieved by shooting much of its 90 minute running time during 'magic hour' - the time between when the sun sets and the night falls - when the light seems to come from nowhere...a magic place.

'Magic hour' is actually only about 20 minutes, so, to be as prepared as possible, the actors would rehearse their scenes during the day. As soon as the sun had set, they would shoot as quickly as possible, often frantically - fearful of even wasting a minute.

Malick's decision to shoot so much of the film in this light was not simply for aesthetic reasons. Historically and in the context of the story, this was the period when these scenes would really have taken place, for the field workers would rise before the sun and work until it set. Their only 'free' time being this 'magic hour'.

The result is a film that lingers in the mind long after the last credit has rolled."