The Field

The Field

Year: 1990

Runtime: 110 mins

Language: English

Director: Jim Sheridan

DramaEpic history and literatureRacism and the powerful fight for justiceReligious faith sin and forgivenessCaptivating vision and Shakespearean drama

Bull McCabe's family has tended a farm field, sacrificing everything for the land. When the widowed owner puts it up for public auction, McCabe resolves to buy it. No locals dare bid, but a wealthy American wants the land for a highway. Bull and his son try to persuade him to abandon the plan, but their effort leads to a dark, sinister outcome.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Field yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Field (1990)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Field (1990). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Mid-20th century

Set in a rural Irish community during a period of modernization, the arrival of an American investor signals change. The period is defined by land disputes, public auctions and aging farm life colliding with new roads and hydroelectric plans. The era shapes the characters' sense of pride, fate and community.

Location

Ireland, Irish village, The Field

The story unfolds in rural Ireland around a shared family field. A small village hub with a pub, a rectory and a Traveller community frames the social world around the field. The landscape moves from barren to productive through generations as the field's value pulls in outsiders.

🏞️ Rural 🚜 Farmland 🏘️ Village life

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:28

Main Characters – The Field (1990)

Meet the key characters of The Field (1990), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Bull McCabe (Richard Harris)

A fiercely prideful and stubborn farmer who believes the field is his family's birthright. His obsession with the land is intensified by past tragedy, especially his son's death, and he regards any threat to the field as a personal affront. His volatile temperament culminates in a fatal confrontation at the waterfall, triggering his own unraveling.

🔥 Obsession 🧱 Pride ⚖️ Justice

Peter (Tom Berenger)

An American developer intent on exploiting the field for a hydroelectric project and road construction. He treats the land as a prize to be won at auction, sidelining emotion in favor of profit. His clashes with Bull escalate until he is killed in the climactic confrontation.

🏗️ Ambition 💼 Modernization ⚔️ Confrontation

Tadgh McCabe (Sean Bean)

Bull's son who has long harassed the widow, creating tension around the field's sale. He becomes entangled in the dangerous dynamics surrounding the auction and ultimately dies in the tragedy brought on by the field's obsession.

🎭 Rebellion 💔 Guilt 🕯️ Tragedy

Bird O'Donnell (John Hurt)

Bull's acolyte and agent who bids on his behalf and helps navigate the auction. He embodies a quiet loyalty and pragmatic approach, yet remains swept up in the field's overpowering pull on the community.

🤝 Loyalty 🗝️ Mediation

Widow (Frances Tomelty)

Owner of the field who decides to sell by public auction. She has been pressured by the men in the village and ultimately asserts the market's rule, becoming a focal point for the community's tensions over land and ownership.

💰 Wealth ⚖️ Power

Father Chris Doran (Sean McGinley)

The parish priest who offers mediation and support to the McCabe family. He becomes a voice of conscience and community authority as the tragedy unfolds, confronting the fallout of the field dispute.

⛪ Faith 🗣️ Mediation

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:28

Major Themes – The Field (1990)

Explore the central themes of The Field (1990), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔥 Obsession

The field becomes an all-consuming obsession for Bull McCabe, who reads every success or failure through a lens of ownership and fate. His fixation distorts reality and fuels violence, ultimately driving him toward a mental breakdown. The landscape itself seems to demand loyalty beyond reason.

🏗️ Modernization

The outsider Peter represents progress and the economic shift into hydroelectric development and new roads. His plans threaten the traditional family field and trigger a brutal power struggle. The clash highlights the tension between old rural life and the pull of progress.

💔 Family and guilt

Family bonds shape each decision, from Bull's grief over his deceased son to his guilt about his surviving son Tadgh. The field becomes a stage where personal history is projected onto land and other people. Loss compounds the characters' motivations and tragedy.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:28

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of The Field

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Field in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Field is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Field Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Field, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Field Summary

The Field Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Field with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Field Timeline

More About The Field

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Field: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Field

Explore More About Movie The Field

The Field (1990) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

The Field (1990) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

The Field (1990) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow