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The Milagro Beanfield War (1987)

Director: Robert Redford

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From Time Out Film Guide

A New Mexican handyman (Vennera), by a mix of magical intervention and carelessness, kicks down the sluice gate of a privatised water supply, which converts his parched ancestral patch into a potentially fertile field of beans. But a developer (Bradford) in cahoots with all the men-with-no-smiles from State Governor (Walsh) down, wants the water for a planned leisure valley. Battle is enjoined. Which cues stormy domestic quarrels, riotous community meetings, the re-illusionment of a hack (Heard), a chance for the local conscience (Braga) to look vital in jeans and crisp white blouse, and for the sheriff (Blades) to display his lopsided grin. A tragic accident threatens the happy ending, but hang on in. Ostensibly a celebration of the triumph of community over exploitation and injustice, Redford's film sustains a slow mood of simpatico amiability and photographs the landscape with moony or golden washes that are perhaps hard to dislike, but is slain by its adherence to an outdated populist mythology.

Author: WH

Time Out Film Guide

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Bill said...

Posted on Jul 19 2009 02:01 "is slain by its adherence to an outdated populist mythology'' This incredibly arrogant and STUPID statement qualifies its author for some education in reality. I have lived for several years in the heart of that part of New Mexico, and as someone with REAL experience there, I can verify the accuracy of the portrayal of the culture and life in that region. Perhaps your reviewer should drag his fat, dead butt INTO a region and a culture before he declares it to be mythical

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