There are movies that stop me in my tracks every time they come on. Movies that feel like an old friend has dropped by for a cup of tea or more realistically a drop of whiskey. For me, Field of Dreams is one of those movies. I know what you’re thinking. This is not the greatest film ever made and certainly not the greatest baseball movie ever made. And honestly as a filmmaker I have more than a few questions for the researchers because there are issues.
However, I haven’t seen the movie since I started this journey into documenting legacy and seeing it through this filter was simply amazing. The story hit new cords for me. It came on the television while we were visiting a friend, so I had the extra joy of sharing this story with someone who also hadn’t seen it in a very long time.
SPOILER ALERT: This movie came out in 1989, but if you haven’t seen it and plan on seeing it, please stop reading.
Field of Dreams
Farmer Ray hears a voice (“if you build it, he will come“) and builds a baseball field where his corn once stood.
The ghosts of professional ball players come and play ballgames on his diamond in the middle of nowhere Iowa. (You had me at ghosts and baseball)
Then Farmer Ray hears the voice again and with the support of his wife and under the threat of foreclosure he takes a road trip with the possibility of kidnapping a famous author, taking a walk in 1972 Midnight in Paris style and picking up a hitch hiker from 1922.
This fantastic journey is a road trip, a ghost story, a sports movie and most deliciously a movie about who we are and what we are willing to do for a dream. A dream that we may not even know is ours until we are in the middle of the journey.
I still love this movie. Even though it holds all the propaganda of a post Reagan era looking back to a simpler time AND it shows Joe Jackson batting right handed (y’all) I love the message it sends me. To keep building, to keep moving, to silence the critics and believe in the dream.
Building Your Field of Dreams
What is your field of dreams? What are you wanting to build? And who is it for?
These are great questions to ask your self. But what is most important is that you listen for the answers. They are probably already trying to tell you something.
Take a step forward and make it happen. And if you end up building a baseball field and “they” come, please call me!
Blueskies,
Tami