Easter Sunday Recommendation: Lilies of the Field

 

           Easter Sunday is among us ladies and gentlemen, for which I honestly say that even in these years of Lent I often wonder why not start the seasons of lent on a specific day or month just like Thanksgiving or Christmas are always on the same day. I mean not that I'm complaining because in all fairness it's all part of God's plan, I guess. Sadly, with all the evil shenanigans I couldn’t get caught up on season five of the Chosen, though I might be getting back sooner since season six is coming out later this year. Luckily, I found a movie that brought memories of seeing a long time ago, moreover, starring the great Sidney Poitier.

         When traveling African American Homer Smith (Sidney Poitier) stops by a farm in rural Arizona, he is welcomed by a group of Roman Catholic nuns who have emigrated from Germany. Realizing that the farm needs a lot of work, Homer takes on several repair projects for the women, who are led by a head strong Mother Maria (Lilia Skala). Impressed by Homer's kindness and strong work ethic, the nuns come to believe that he has been sent by God to help build them a chapel. 

          I do in fact have a memory in seeing this movie, though granted it's been quite a long time since I've actually seen this movie whole, though I would imagine it's been my childhood years when I went to my Grandfather's house during Easter season, and all I remember is Sidney being concerned for breakfast when you can't eat before Mass. Now if your Catholic or Christian you would understand but if you’re not then no worries. The film alone was made for 240,000-247,000 and yet did a successful run at the box office with 5 million worldwide, for as a Catholic that's awesome considering now you don't see a whole lot of Christian based movies doing well at the box office unless it's The Chosen. Going back and watching this film all the way through this film does in fact bring a lot of Noah's Ark vibes to me to the extent that the character of Homer is being tasked by God in the form of a nun to task him into building a chapel and although the man is not perfect or up to standards of a good Christian, but with kindness towards others he feels compelled to build the Chapel. If there was anyone to make this film believable or authentic, you have to cast Sidney Poitier in the role of Homer Smith for a gillion reasons, the man brings a great sense of realism and relatability towards the character in that he's just a drifter, looking out for himself until he meets these group of nuns that slowly change his life one step at a time, and that to me is something more believable to me because we're all trying to get by on life and life isn't a great thing to rely on but we all have to find the inner kindness in all of ourselves not matter how life throws at you and when you see something that's in need of help you just have to help and that's what Poitier does really well in making the character relatable for the audience member. The surprising factor is that yes this is the movie that made Sidney Poitier a acting legend as well as being the first African-American actor to win the Oscar, but it's his only Oscar besides the lifetime achievement Oscar in 2002, for which sure it's great but I could of swore he won more Oscars especially with his great performance, In the Heat of the Night. But on the other hand, Denzel Washington has two Oscars under his belt so, can't win them all, I guess. Having the opportunity to go back as well as remembering, this great Christian movie classic this is hands down one of the best Catholic films since The Trouble with Angles because it, more importantly brings the diversity in terms of both religion as well as culture, but also brings a positive spin on faith and human kindness that everyone should see, especially on Easter Sunday, furthermore if you have Amazon Prime subscription and looking for a perfect Christian movie to watch this Easter than I would highly recommend watching this Sidney Poitier classic.