Friendship’s Field is a heartwarming classic. Produced by a small independent film group, Feature Films for Families, it tells the tale of one Ira McClure, a twelve-year-old tomboy in Iowa whose father’s potato farm is doing rather well, and needs more help during the growing season. He decided to do as other neighboring farms do and hire a troupe of Mexican migrants to help out. Ira quickly befriends one of children, and they go on many adventures throughout the area. Then the plot twists into a discrimination/learn not to hate thing. The end. For the true fan, this is a must have! Very enjoyable by all ages, but not quite the cinematic masterpiece that The Secret Garden is.
From an insert sent with film back in c1995:
Friendship's Field: Creating Memories
by Chad Larsen
Childhood memories are capable of triggering our deepest personal
emotions. Friendship's Field, our latest original production, is a
touching story of friendship in the face of racial prejudice. The
film is based on childhood experiences of Writer/Director Bruce
Neibaur. "I've had images running around in my head ever since I was
a boy and my father took me out to the labor camp in Southern Idaho."
.... Neibaur is no stranger to our original productions having
directed In Your Wildest Dreams and The ButterCream Gang. While
directing a film in Montreal, Canada he met Kate Maberly. "As I got
to know Kate, I began to see her 'tomboy' qualities and the idea of
turning the main character for Friendship's Field from a boy to a
girl started to develop. Kate loved the script and fortunately for
us she was available during our proposed production dates. It was an
amazing stroke of good fortune to land an actress of her quality in
the role of 'Ira'."
Kate Maberly, 13, already has an impressive list of credentials.
Inspired by her older sister's success as an actress, Kate's first
professional role was at the age of eight in a British television
series entitled Eastenders. After two years and various other roles,
she played the part of 'Mary Lennox' in the Warner Bros. version of
The Secret Garden. Kate had not heard of Feature Films for Families
in her hometown of Surrey, England before this project. She is
impressed with the cause of Feature Films for Families and hopes to
work with us again. "My friendship with Jonathan Hernandez (Oscar)
and working again with Bruce Neibaur made Friendship's Field a great
experience," she said.
Genre: Drama/Family Unrated, although it would earn a rating of G
I would recommend this for ages 6 and up. The lesson might be lost on younger viewers, and while there is violence, its much more mild than loony tunes.
Also starring: Jonathan Hernandez, Dallen Gettling, Aaron Lee Syrett, and Randall King. Directed by Bruce Neibaur.
Friendship's Field won the Children's Jury Award for Feature Films and Videos - Live Action from Chicago International Children's Film Festival.
Favorite quotes:
“Creepy, you know spooky.”
"You have to know where the enemy is going to be first, so you know what to do with him later."
"Did you get a free bowl of soup with that haircut, Randy?"
"What a kid! What a future!"
Quality Kate Time: 8 out of 10
(buyer beware, very poor customer service) 