Homer Smith, um trabalhador da construção civil desempregado, dirigindo-se a oeste para em uma fazenda remota no deserto para conseguir um pouco de água quando seu carro superaquece. A fazenda está sendo cuidada por um grupo de freiras católicas do Leste Europeu, chefiada pela rígida Madre Maria, que acredita que Homer foi enviado por Deus para construir uma capela muito necessária no deserto.
This is one of my favourite performances from Sidney Poitier. Normally his characterisations were settled in an environment of racist and/or bigoted undertones. This drama actually has a much lighter, more comedic, touch to it. He is "Homer" a travelling factotum who happens upon five German nuns who who are bent on building a chapel - but they have no money, no labourer, and practically no way of communicating with their largely Spanish speaking neighbours. Now "Homer" is a kindly soul, so when the headstrong and determined "Mother Maria" (Lilia Skala) coaxes and cajoles him to help them out he is gradually drawn into their community - despite himself! He starts to teach them English, they start to teach him... well suffice to say nothing quite goes as planned for anyone as the story heads to it's obvious, but vindicating, solution. There's an enjoyable dynamic on screen here - some singing, some humour and as a general semblance of society builds, we begin to wonder who is doing whom more good. Ninety minutes just flies by, and it really is well worth catching up up with.
