Music by Kitaro
It shows the life of Le Ly born in Vietnam during World War 2 and the struggles she and her family went though. Invaded continuously by the French, Cambodians, Japan and America, each day for Le Ly and her family was a struggle just to survive.
But with that came Le Ly's spiritual strength. Through her buddhist beliefs, taught to her by her loving father, she found the spiritual strength, to fight and overcome the continual horrors put before her daily.
The story shows Le Ly's trials and tribulations throughout her life, starting as a child of rice farmers, her growing up, life as a young adult in Saigon, and her eventual marriage to Sgt. Steve Butler. With Steve and their children her move to San Diego USA and eventually Le Ly returns to Vietnam to pay her respects one last time.
'Heaven and Earth' is not just another war movie, but a true glance into the beliefs of buddhists and the vietnamese way of life. Truly insipiring.
Based on a true story. The life story of Le Ly Hayslip is also in two great books:-
"When Heaven and Earth Changed Places'
and
"Child of War, Woman of Peace".
A long time ago a young woman went off into the world. Like her brothers and sisters, she fought in wars, had children, suffered and loved greatly.
I was the 6th born child named Le Ly and I lived in the most beautiful village on earth.
My earliest memories were working alongside Mother in the fields, always working my mother.
Le Ly "Momma, where do babies come from?"
Momma laughs and says "From my belly button!", while she looks down and touches her navel.
Le Ly looks down as her own navel with a worried look on her face. Momma laughs again and says, "Don't worry, God makes babies and puts them in your belly. You have plenty of warning!"