Telling a story is not absolutely necessary. Good films have been made before which tried to provide a sense of place and time, or to evoke certain emotions, or to deal with important issues, without revolving around a story. All of this might still have worked if it were presented as a memory film, through the eyes of one of the children, but the film is constructed as a straight narrative, which form does not lend itself to digressions. This lack of focus is not a fatal weakness. There is a lot to admire about Places in the Heart .
Every scene is, internally, well written, directed,and photographed.
The period detail is nicely rendered. Quietly, of course, so I don't disturb the other patrons. As mentioned, the acting is very good, particularly John Malkovich as a blind boarder Edna is pressured into accepting, and Danny Glover as Moses, a black drifter who provides the needed experience to make the cotton crop possible. His character looks like part of another movie. I recommend Places in the Heart to those who are not especially offended by sentimental films.