Overview
A man finds unexpected purpose while helping a group of determined nuns in the desert.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- warm
- gentle
- witty
- lazy sunday
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a charming, sincere, and accessible comedy-drama elevated by Sidney Poitier’s performance and its humane cross-cultural spirit.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Homer’s construction work gradually creates trust between him, the East European nuns, and the surrounding Spanish-speaking community.
Homer’s interactions with the nuns and local community turn potentially divisive encounters into compassionate, lightly comic exchanges.
The Arizona desert farm and the planned chapel define the film’s physical and emotional movement from isolation toward community.
Homer stops only for water after his car overheats, but Mother Maria persuades him to take responsibility for constructing the chapel.
Films like Lilies of the Field, and why
The African Queen
warm humanist comedy-drama centered on an outsider building community across cultural and religious differences
A Man Called Peter
uplifting social drama where a determined outsider transforms an isolated community through practical labor and mutual respect
The Shoes of the Fisherman
gentle, spiritually inflected comedy-drama about strangers overcoming language, cultural, and economic barriers
Movie Details
- Director
- Ralph Nelson
- Release Date
- 1963-06-04
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (235)
Cast
- Sidney Poitier
- Lilia Skala
- Lisa Mann
- Isa Crino
- Francesca Jarvis
- Pamela Branch
- Stanley Adams
- Dan Frazer
- Bobby Driscoll
- Ralph Nelson
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Lilies of the Field about?
- An unemployed wanderer and a determined order of nuns turn an isolated Arizona farm into a hopeful experiment in faith, labor, and community.
- What is Lilies of the Field like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Lilies of the Field as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Lilies of the Field violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Lilies of the Field.
- What did critics think of Lilies of the Field?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a charming, sincere, and accessible comedy-drama elevated by Sidney Poitier’s performance and its humane cross-cultural spirit.
- Which films are like Lilies of the Field?
- Films with a similar feel include The African Queen, A Man Called Peter, and The Shoes of the Fisherman.
- How long is Lilies of the Field?
- Lilies of the Field runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch Lilies of the Field?
- In United States, Lilies of the Field is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
