Run the Wild Fields

A woman in North Carolina (Joanne Whalley) awaits the return of her husband from the Pacific, who's missing in action. She hires a disreputable transient to work the farm (Sean Patrick Flanery) and he bonds with her 10 years-old daughter (Alexa PenaVega).

"Run the Wild Fields" (2000) was based on a play and contains elements of films like "Of Mice and Men," "Places in the Heart," "The Man in the Moon" and "Lawn Dogs." The story has room to breathe as it fleshes-out the characters and refuses to go over-the-top, which works for me. There is one cliched scene, but the flick makes up for it with an unexpected turn.

It runs 1 hour, 41 minutes, and was shot north of Toronto in Whitchurch-Stouffville.

GRADE: A-

This film is well worth watching for the emotions that are allowed to develop between the main characters. The mysterious stranger has his own secrets, and it may possibly just have happened, (leaving room for artistic license.) I liked being caught into that particular time-frame of the '40's when morality still existed in the American culture, and people (generally) had depth of character. The film does not "assault" the viewer, like so many recent releases will assault the senses. Really well acted and directed, I thought.

Great movie Alexa Vega is so cute as Pug well done movie

An extensive effort is made by all involved to present an accurate background of a small town in the U.S. and its close connection to martial affairs on varying fronts in 1945. A suite of scenes is given sincere attention by the director, Paul Kaufman, in his feature film debut. The text of Rodney Vaccaro's script, based upon his play, is remarkably well done in light of his hideous attempt at comedy with the misfire "Three to Tango". This film is nicely cast, and standout performances are given by Sean Patrick Flanery, Joanne Whalley, and a brilliant Alexa Vega. Insertion of specific details relating to the final year of the war is not overdone, and the fairly complex plot is permitted to develop as a mirror of the players' emotions. Noteworthy is the amassing of detail that is essential to a drama showcasing a wide range of character interaction. In sum, a vital and scarcely known work.

Sean Patrick Flannery is reserved as a drifter who comes to a small town looking for work. Though the town believes he is a coward since he is not in the War, a young girl, who's mother has hired him to help run the farm now that her husband has disappeared in the War, finds the drifter fascinating and is torn as to whether she wants her father to return at all. The leads are fine and this is a quick watch without any heavy impact.