At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1991)

VHS CASE/SIDE

Length of film:  189 Minutes

Rated: R

Genre: Drama, Romance

Director: Hector Babenco

Starring: Tom Berenger, John Lithgow, Daryl Hannah, Aidan Quinn, Tom Waits, Kathy Bates, Stenio Garcia

IMDB Rank: 6.9/10

Part 1 Time:  93 Minutes

Part 2 Time:  96 Minutes

Where does the first part end? The Quarrier family meets some members of the Niarunas indigenous natives at their mission. The Niaruna accept the Quarrier family’s gifts, but do not stay long.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “Friends this is nothing, no its not your fault, come back!” Martin Quarrier (Aidan Quinn) shouts into the jungle.

First line of dialogue on the second part: “Taweeda, where did you get those things?” Aeore (S. Yriwana Karaja) speaks to Taweeda (Edwirges Ribeiro) about the gifts given to the Niaruna by the Quarrier family

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Minimal, the first encounter between the Quarrier family and members of the Niaruna tribe was disordered, but nevertheless peaceful. Will the Niaruna tribe continue visit the mission? Will they seek religious reform in exchange for food, medicine, clothing, and cooking utensils?

Which part is better? This film is interesting in the sense that it shares many of the same themes presented in James Cameron’s Avatar, namely the conflict between human, nature, spirituality and religion. In part one, we are introduced to the Quarrier and Huben families who want to re-establish a mission to the local aboriginal tribe (Niaruna). The purpose of the mission is to introduce Christianity to the Niaruna. The Niaruna who live near large gold deposits are threatened by the possibility of gold miners taking the land. In part two these themes are continued to be explored with the addition of sickness, death, and questioning of God. As a result, part two is better and brings closure to the story.

Academy Awards: None