Lilies of the Field

Lilies of the Field is a 1963 film which tells the story of an African-American drifter who encounters a group of nuns who feel he has been sent to them, by God, to help them build a new church. It stars Sidney Poitier, Lilia Skala, Lisa Mann, Isa Crino, Francesca Jarvis, Pamela Branch, Stanley Adams and Dan Frazer.

Related Topics:
1963 - African-American - Nun - Sidney Poitier - Lilia Skala - Lisa Mann - Isa Crino - Francesca Jarvis - Pamela Branch - Stanley Adams - Dan Frazer

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The movie was adapted by James Poe from the novel by William E. Barrett. It was produced and directed by Ralph Nelson.

Related Topics:
James Poe - William E. Barrett - Ralph Nelson

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Homer Smith is an itinerant handyman who stops at a farm in the Arizona desert to replenish his water supply. Seeing a strong man arrive, the small group of nuns who live there believe that he has been sent by God to help them in their dream of building a chapel for the nearby townsfolk. He is persuaded to do a small roofing repair and stays overnight, believing that he will be paid in the morning.

Related Topics:
Farm - Arizona - Nuns - Chapel

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In fact the nuns have no money and are living off the land (what vegetables the arid climate will provide and some milk and eggs) and plan to raise funds to develop the farm and build the chapel. Smith, against his better judgement, agrees to stay another day to help them with other small jobs, always with the faint hope that Mother Maria will settle with him. Eventually, He is told by Juan (Stanley Adams), the service station/cafe/store owner in the nearby town, about the hardships that the nuns, led by the unyielding Mother Maria (Lilia Skala) overcame to emigrate from Eastern Europe and over the Berlin Wall to only barely be able to scratch out a meager living on the farm, which was willed to their order.

Related Topics:
Stanley Adams - Lilia Skala - Berlin Wall

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Despite the unlikelihood of his ever getting paid for his work, Smith stays longer and finds himself driven to work further on building the chapel. He confesses that he wanted to be an architect, but couldn't afford to study, and this impells him to undertake the job. To earn money to buy some "real food" to supplement the spartan diet the nuns are able to provide him, Smith gets a part-time job with the nearby construction contractor, Mr Ashton, who is impressed that Smith can handle nearly every manner of heavy equipment he owns.

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To pass the evenings, Smith teaches the nuns some basic English and even joins them in singing. They share their different musical traditons with one another -- their Catholic chants and his Southern Baptist hymns.

Related Topics:
Catholic - Southern Baptist

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Smith is determined that the building will be constructed to the highest standards and so will be done by him and only him. The locals, impressed with his determination but no less dogged than he, will content themselves no longer with just watching but find small ways to lend a hand. Once the camel's nose is in the tent, they end up doing as they intended and as Smith tried in vain to resist -- assisting in every aspect of the construction in addition to just contributing materials.

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Even Ashton who had long ignored Mother Maria's pleas, finds an excuse to deliver some more materials, and almost overnight, Smith finds that he's become a building foreman and contractor. He constantly disputes with Mother Maria, but the chapel gets built.

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The evening before the Sunday when the chapel is to be dedicated arrives. All the work has been done and Smith is exhausted. Against her will, Mother Maria reluctantly admits that Smith has built the chapel, rather than God. Up until that moment, it had been her practice to thank only God for work that Smith had done and all he had given to the nuns. Mother Maria and Smith are both strong personalities so this was a potent moment in their relationship which consisted of a health portion of mutual respect but also constant low-level battles.

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As the nuns sings their nightly hymns, Smith, knowing that his work is done, slips out of the house and drives quietly off into the night.

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The film won the Academy Award for Best Actor (Sidney Poitier) and was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Lilia Skala), Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, Best Picture and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

Related Topics:
Academy Award for Best Actor - Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Best Cinematography, Black-and-White - Best Picture - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium

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Poitier was the first African-American actor to win a Best Actor Oscar for his role in this film.

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