"There's another law stronger than the common law... The law of the land."
— Bull McCabe
The Field is a 1990 Irish drama film written and directed by Jim Sheridan, adapted from the 1965 play of the same name by John B. Keane. Set in the early 1930s, the story follows aging farmer "Bull" McCabe (Richard Harris) who has spent most of his life cultivating a small field. When he learns the landowner decides to auction it, it becomes war between him and the townsfolk who want to buy it. The cast also includes Sean Bean, John Hurt, and Tom Berenger.
The film was a major comeback role for Harris, who'd spent most of the previous decade mired in substance abuse issues and starring in schlock like Tarzan the Ape Man and Strike Commando II. He earned Oscar, BAFTA, and Golden Globe nominations for his performance.
This movie provides examples of:
- Abusive Parents: Katie's father beats her. McCabe's treatment of Tadhg eventually crosses into this trope though Tadhg is adamant in defending his father.
- Actor Allusion: John Hurt plays a character named Bird, who serves much the same role to McCabe as the Fool in King Lear served to the king - a seeming Cloud Cuckoo Lander who actually speaks words of wise counsel. Hurt played the fool in a 1983 film of King Lear.
- Adaptational Nationality: William Dee of the play, an Englishman, was changed to Peter, an American.
- All for Nothing: When Tadhg declares his plans to leave and that he never wanted the field, McCabe realizes he killed Peter for nothing and loses it.
- Driven to Madness: McCabe snaps after he inadvertently kills Peter and Tadhg declares he's leaving, and herds his cattle towards a cliff. Tadhg is driven off the cliff by the cattle when he tries to stop his father, and on seeing this McCabe loses what's left of his mind, trying to chase the ocean waves away from Tadhg's body.
- Driven to Suicide: McCabe's elder son, Seamie, committed suicide when he was 13. McCabe blames himself for this; shortly before Seamie's death, he'd told him that he would inherit the farm and Tadhg would have to move away.
- Grey-and-Gray Morality: Neither Peter nor Bull are particularly likable characters, but Both Sides Have a Point. Peter is within his legal rights as a developer to do as he pleases with his property, but the callous way he treats Bull and others on the property makes him seem ruthless and amoral. Meanwhile, though Bull seems initially sympathetic due to the prospect of losing access to the land that he farmed for decades, his violent and eventually murderous behavior makes it impossible to see him as the victim.
- Outliving One's Offspring: Bull's son, Seamie, killed himself 18 years ago and Bull's never gotten over it. In the end he accidently kills Tadhg as well.
- Whammy Bid: At the first auction for the field, Peter bids 80 pounds, 30 above what McCabe can bid. Subverted at the second auction - Bird, on behalf of McCabe, bids 101 pounds, one pound above the reserve price, and nobody tries to top him.
- Star-Crossed Lovers: Tadhg and the Irish Traveler girl. He gets her to agree to run off with him after Peter's death, but after he tells McCabe about his plans, the aftermath leads to his death.
