Lilies of the Field

The uplifting story of how 5 German ladies come to the US to live the dream of exploiting a black man to work for food, then make him feel guilty about it. That's kind of tongue in cheek, the singing and laughing and Poitier charm make this an enjoyable film, but those undertones are there and bathe the film in an air of awkwardness, especially since they are tangentially addressed enough bring them to the forefront, but then dismissed. It's almost worse than if they had been ignored completely.

Amazing movie! I highly recommend seeing this film! It's a great story of hard work and self-pride (earned pride, and humble pride). Poitier is brilliant in this role (as he is in the other's I've seen him in) and it truly is a feel good film!!

A simple drama about faith that is elevated by a superb performance from Sidney Poitier. Better than most films nominated for Best Picture in the 60s.

Cute charming comedy

Nothing about the plot is especially significant or creative, but it's a great film because Poitier's character is so likable, and the film itself isn't overbearing, and doesn't beat you over the head - it's just an up front feel-good movie. Nothing wrong with that.

Poitier does get a bit shticky in places though.

It's a lovely film carried by a wonderful Poitier performance, though perhaps a little slight and without earnest confrontation. The racial component cannot be ignored by the critical eye, and there's almost a celebratory sense of a black man being humbled by doing thankless work without pay for these white women. Sure, they help each other grow and learn new things, but there's an unfortunate undercurrent of racial and religious oppression going on here, and it's presented as a positive thing.

Sidney Poitier becoming the first black person to win an acting Oscar is this movie's biggest achievement. For its day, it's also refreshing that race isn't center stage, instead relegated to the subtext (it must have been refreshing for Poitier). Otherwise, it's alright but not great. The dynamics between the hero and the nuns are clearly outlined and predictable, and there is none of the nuance I would have preferred to see. It's pretty much in "feel-good" territory.

A☆m☆e☆n.