*Minor Spoilers For Sequel, Major Spoilers For Original* There's this film called Lilies Of The Field you may have heard of. It wasn't a very big deal, except that it explored old themes of pride and isolation with a fresh innovation, wrapped in an enthralling plot, adapted from a novel of the rarest literary value, written about a legendary but purportedly true story... and oh, its star won an Academy Award, and that star just happened to be Sidney Poitier, the first African American ever to take home the prestigious Best Actor award for his leading role, and all this happened while Dr. Martin Luther King was alive and fighting tooth and nail for black rights.
So yeah, it's kind of a big deal. Lilies of the Field broke ground.
And then there's Christmas Lilies Of The Field, it's made-for-TV Christmas special sequel.
I'm not saying that it couldn't be done. That it was impossible to craft a followup which would ever be anything more than an amazing film's sorta-dumb tagalong little-brother. But as moving and groundbreaking as the original was, they probably shouldn't have tried.
If you haven't seen the original, stop. Right now. Go watch the original Lilies before I call you uncultured swine. I try not to reveal any more than the inciting event in any review, but considering this one's a sequel, I can't be held responsible for spoiling anything the original.
If I ruin an American classic that you've never seen before, that's on you, buddy.
The OG Lilies introduces Homer Smith, a vagrant laborer who dreams of becoming an architect. It's a tale of a self-generating destiny overtaking the man. In the middle of the desert he encounters a group of German nuns who, we learn in due time, have hurdled monstrous adversity to escape Soviet-controlled parts of Europe and immigrate to Arizona, where they manage a meager living pulling the proverbial water from the rock and farming the barren desert. Smith stops to help them mend a fence on the hopes he'll be paid, only to meet his match in the iron-willed Mother Superior: they quote a few scriptures, Smith's scripture hinting that he ought to be paid and Mother Superior's suggesting the opposite. Mother Superior gets the upper hand and manages to convince Smith to stay on for another odd-job the next day.
Thus shanghaied, Smith finds himself all but obligated to continue his work. It's a case of worlds colliding when Smith (a Baptist) is immersed in their Catholic world, but an undeniable bond is building. Smith's growing friendship with the nuns culminates in admitting his dream of being an architect and agreeing to construct a chapel so that they and their parishioners don't have to walk miles to the next town's chapel, and despite Smith's obstinate insistence that he alone build it, the nuns and community band together to assist in the mammoth project. Eventually – here comes in the self-generating destiny – they come to believe Smith was sent by God on a mission to help them.
The bittersweet ending revolves around these two indomitable wills, Mother Superior and Smith, who've butted heads throughout the film. Smith completes the chapel, and Mother Superior finally gives thanks to him directly (whereas before she's been careful to thank only God). They and the nuns sing one last Baptist riff together, and Smith quietly departs onto fates unknown, supposedly forever. Mother Superior, knowing he's leaving, makes no further efforts to twist his arm or dominate his choice with any quoted scripture.
You're satisfied with this ending. It isn't 100% happily-ever-after, but it's good enough. After a long struggle these two have finally come to understand each other.
Which brings me at last to why this sequel should not have been made: it's a *freaking Christmas special*.
Lando Calrissian/Apollo Creed (known as Billy Dee Williams to some people) takes over the leading role in Christmas Lilies Of The Field, and I have no complaints there. He's a versatile enough actor to work with what he's given. But let me give you the (somewhat mocking) rundown of exactly what they gave him to work with.
Homer Smith is back! He's been reunited with the nuns after coming to reinspect his work on the chapel and ensure it's still up to spec. But wait; what's this? A busload of adorable children? Not just children- orphans. Thanks for the chapel, Lando, but we need an orphanage now, and it's got to be done before Christmas or the Big Bad State is going to send them all to foster homes.
Oh, and one of the orphans is pregnant. Will the baby be born healthy, and on Christmas Eve? I have a feeling I know the answer to that! Basically, it's a But-The-Children! plot, and it's totally lame.
OG Lilies is a like a five-course meal engineered by a nutritional scientist. It's everything you want out of this sort of drama. It's the porterhouse steak; it's the salad; it's expert wine-pairings; it's a delicious desert you don't feel guilty about.
Christmas Lilies? Christmas Lilies demands a happily-ever-after by its very nature. Christmas Lilies is rock-candy dipped in chocolate, drizzled with caramel, and liberally coated with sugar.
I enjoyed the movie for what it was. I had no delusions going into it. This was a light-hearted sequel which never aimed to break new ground.
But after OG Lilies, that just wasn't enough. OG Lilies deserves better.
My message to filmmakers? If a sequel can't at least match its original, don't bother.
My message to viewers? If you're the kind of person who likes Christmas Specials, have at it. If you're here for that same fulfillment you found in OG Lilies, though, you're barking up the wrong tree.
So yeah, it's kind of a big deal. Lilies of the Field broke ground.
And then there's Christmas Lilies Of The Field, it's made-for-TV Christmas special sequel.
I'm not saying that it couldn't be done. That it was impossible to craft a followup which would ever be anything more than an amazing film's sorta-dumb tagalong little-brother. But as moving and groundbreaking as the original was, they probably shouldn't have tried.
If you haven't seen the original, stop. Right now. Go watch the original Lilies before I call you uncultured swine. I try not to reveal any more than the inciting event in any review, but considering this one's a sequel, I can't be held responsible for spoiling anything the original.
If I ruin an American classic that you've never seen before, that's on you, buddy.
The OG Lilies introduces Homer Smith, a vagrant laborer who dreams of becoming an architect. It's a tale of a self-generating destiny overtaking the man. In the middle of the desert he encounters a group of German nuns who, we learn in due time, have hurdled monstrous adversity to escape Soviet-controlled parts of Europe and immigrate to Arizona, where they manage a meager living pulling the proverbial water from the rock and farming the barren desert. Smith stops to help them mend a fence on the hopes he'll be paid, only to meet his match in the iron-willed Mother Superior: they quote a few scriptures, Smith's scripture hinting that he ought to be paid and Mother Superior's suggesting the opposite. Mother Superior gets the upper hand and manages to convince Smith to stay on for another odd-job the next day.
Thus shanghaied, Smith finds himself all but obligated to continue his work. It's a case of worlds colliding when Smith (a Baptist) is immersed in their Catholic world, but an undeniable bond is building. Smith's growing friendship with the nuns culminates in admitting his dream of being an architect and agreeing to construct a chapel so that they and their parishioners don't have to walk miles to the next town's chapel, and despite Smith's obstinate insistence that he alone build it, the nuns and community band together to assist in the mammoth project. Eventually – here comes in the self-generating destiny – they come to believe Smith was sent by God on a mission to help them.
The bittersweet ending revolves around these two indomitable wills, Mother Superior and Smith, who've butted heads throughout the film. Smith completes the chapel, and Mother Superior finally gives thanks to him directly (whereas before she's been careful to thank only God). They and the nuns sing one last Baptist riff together, and Smith quietly departs onto fates unknown, supposedly forever. Mother Superior, knowing he's leaving, makes no further efforts to twist his arm or dominate his choice with any quoted scripture.
You're satisfied with this ending. It isn't 100% happily-ever-after, but it's good enough. After a long struggle these two have finally come to understand each other.
Which brings me at last to why this sequel should not have been made: it's a *freaking Christmas special*.
Lando Calrissian/Apollo Creed (known as Billy Dee Williams to some people) takes over the leading role in Christmas Lilies Of The Field, and I have no complaints there. He's a versatile enough actor to work with what he's given. But let me give you the (somewhat mocking) rundown of exactly what they gave him to work with.
Homer Smith is back! He's been reunited with the nuns after coming to reinspect his work on the chapel and ensure it's still up to spec. But wait; what's this? A busload of adorable children? Not just children- orphans. Thanks for the chapel, Lando, but we need an orphanage now, and it's got to be done before Christmas or the Big Bad State is going to send them all to foster homes.
Oh, and one of the orphans is pregnant. Will the baby be born healthy, and on Christmas Eve? I have a feeling I know the answer to that! Basically, it's a But-The-Children! plot, and it's totally lame.
OG Lilies is a like a five-course meal engineered by a nutritional scientist. It's everything you want out of this sort of drama. It's the porterhouse steak; it's the salad; it's expert wine-pairings; it's a delicious desert you don't feel guilty about.
Christmas Lilies? Christmas Lilies demands a happily-ever-after by its very nature. Christmas Lilies is rock-candy dipped in chocolate, drizzled with caramel, and liberally coated with sugar.
I enjoyed the movie for what it was. I had no delusions going into it. This was a light-hearted sequel which never aimed to break new ground.
But after OG Lilies, that just wasn't enough. OG Lilies deserves better.
My message to filmmakers? If a sequel can't at least match its original, don't bother.
My message to viewers? If you're the kind of person who likes Christmas Specials, have at it. If you're here for that same fulfillment you found in OG Lilies, though, you're barking up the wrong tree.