Uma Voz nas Sombras

The film that until 2001 sported the only African-American Best Actor or Actress Oscar winner. Sidney Poitier (in an excellent Oscar-winning performance) stars as an unemployed handyman whose car breaks down in New Mexico. He is greeted by a group of German nuns led by Lilia Skala (Oscar-nominated). The nuns are in desperate need of a church and it just seems that Poitier is not going to be able to shake Skala and the various duties she imposes on him. A really great film that works due to Poitier more than anything else. He carried what could have been a disappointing production into cinematic history. Arguably the best film of 1963, "Lilies of the Field" continues to be a funny, dramatic and heart-warming film nearly 40 years after its initial release. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

A film about faith. Special, because it is less religious but reflection support about himself, the others, meets and choices. A nun community, in middle of Arizona desert. A handy man. And a beautiful relation between them, mix of humor and friendship and help. The simplicity of story is more than charming. The message - more than precise. A film for admirers of old classic films. And about lost beauty of authentic cinema. And , sure, the lovely performance of Lilia Skala.

Sidney Poitier won the best actor Oscar for this film and he deserved it playing a traveling handyman who is drafted by a flock of German nuns to build a church out in the deserted Southwest. He is a cynical man with a great singing voice and it is put is put to good use several times. This is a change of pace for me as I usually watch violent fare of the Tarantino style. We all need a pleasant change of pace once and a while.

Few are the films, past and especially present, that contain only pleasure and joy, or at least the seeds of them - even fairy tales have their villains. Heartwarming - absolutely, who wouldn't want to imagine themselves as Homer Smith with the generosity he affords the nuns, not just in building them their chapel but teaching them English and sharing a song or two.

It took me over over 40 years before finally seeing this film, and I'm glad I finally did. It's simply a nice story: nothing super, but a feel-good film to use the cliché. This reminded of the kind of movie you would more likely see in the 1940s with the emphasis on human interest with a "religious" theme to it. I expected Father Flanagan to show up any minute.

Instead, we got a good Baptist man played by Sidney Poitier, who won an Oscar for this performance. Since he's just about the whole movie, and does a great job start-to-finish, who can argue with his award? This certainly doesn't have the feel of a 1960s film. It must have been one of the last of its kind, giving credence to Christianity and having a nice tone throughout. There have been very few like this since then.

Poitier is really the only "name" member of this cast and he's in every scene. If you enjoy his acting, and a good performance in general with a story that will bring some smiles to your face for an hour-and-a-half, this is recommended.