Winter Movies 2013: The Milagro Beanfield War

Two times a year, I like to take a look at movies that feature plants as movie stars. In summer, I try to capture the youthful days of childhood and college, when the long days of summer vacation stretched out before us. In winter, I try to beat back the dark days while waiting for the longer, warmer days of spring. In past posts, we've seen some great (or so-bad-they-are-great) movies centering on plants, the plant world, and landscapes. This time I'm reporting on "political" movies, typically revolving around some environmental issue. Don't worry - the movies are entertaining and deal with their issues in unique ways.

The first movie is from 1988 - The Milagro Beanfield War, and is based on the first novel of a trilogy by John Nichols, directed by Robert Redford, and filmed on location in Truchas, New Mexico. In the movie, an under-the-table land deal involving a golf course leaves local farmers struggling without water for their fields. In frustration, one of the farmers kicks a water valve, inadvertently breaking it and starting the flow of water to his bean field. This kicks off an uprising of sorts by the locals, against the water use laws that favor a few.

The movie got mixed reviews, but I enjoyed the story telling, the dry sweeps of New Mexico land, the odd characters, the flights of mysticism, and the bigger issues of poverty, underhanded deals, and use of public resources for the private gain of a few. I also enjoyed seeing the cast, including many of today's popular stars, all 25 years younger. It is definitely worth a watch while waiting for warmer days!