The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn

Sidney Poitier is still a great actor and this film is a demonstration of his skills. Here he is a carpenter touched by his tough life, which taught him to work as much as possible without hurting anyone. But one day some people wanted to take him away of his land and the tragedy started for him. However he took it as part of life and fought against it with patience and showing himself calm. The morale of the film is simply excellent.

I think this is a very under-rated movie. It won't appeal to many people perhaps, but for a safe, wholesome, pure, lovely movie about the unattractiveness of selfishness, there's few better. The plot is simple but effective, the speed slow, there's no action, no violence, no comedy, no special effects, little drama even (but watching the trailer above reminded me that there's more in the movie than I remembered).

I went away from the movie more relaxed than perhaps from any other that I've ever seen.

For those who want artificial excitement to escape for a while, go elsewhere. For those who want to have their high standards and morals encouraged, go out of your way to watch this once in your life.

Noah Dearborn, Sidney Poitier (Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, To Sir with Love) is a carpenter who is very good at his craft. He lives on a farm by himself. He loves being left alone, and loves his work. That has kept him young. He lives in a small town and Sarah McClellan, Dianne Wiest (The Horse Whisperer, Practical Magic) is his best friend. She also bakes very good pies, which the entire town likes, especially Noah. The developer Christian Nelson, George Newbern (From the Earth to the Moon) wants to purchase Noah's land. Noah does not want to sell it. The developer dates a psychiatrist, Valerie Crane, Mary-Louise Parker (The Client, Fried Green Tomatoes). Developer, Christian Nelson, wants his girl friend to declare Noah incompetent in order to get the land. In the process, the psychiatrist decides that people should have a life style as simple as Noah. She defends Noah and in the process they become friends. Valerie Crane goes to the farm where she was born and raised to get the feeling for the simple life, and dumps her boyfriend. I watched the movie and enjoyed it very much, perhaps because I have made the decision to live a simple life and do what I love to do. Sidney Poitier portrays a simple man but charming and elegant man.

Didn't know what this movie was about, but if you ever lived in the country or small town, and longed to go back, This movie is a delight. The movie had a simple story line that kept you wishing that you were there. I commend the writers and producers for the film.

I totally enjoyed this movie. The story line was interesting and the acting was good. Poitier and Parker did an excellent job. The supporting actors were good too. I thought it was very good for a TV movie. The flashbacks were great filling in the background information, with smooth transitions and was easy to follow. It had variety with some humor and a lot of drama. The ending was satisfactory which is a big thing to me. You leave the movie feeling good. I loved it and bought my own copy. Highly recommended. Appropriate for children - another big plus for me. There was no offensive language, sex or violence. My teenage children watch it with me and like it too.