Watch Harvest

Harvest is a 1994 film directed by Stuart Burge and starring Ted Shackelford, Ron White, and Rebecca Jenkins. The movie takes place in the small farming community of Woody Creek, Nebraska. It follows the lives of four families who are struggling to keep their farms afloat during a time of great economic hardship. The main character of the film is Jack Bateman (Ted Shackelford), a farmer who has inherited his family's farm but is finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. He is facing mounting debts and his crops are failing, leading him to consider selling his land to a wealthy developer who wants to turn it into a golf resort.

Jack's wife, Lily (Rebecca Jenkins), is also feeling the strain of their financial troubles. She is dealing with health issues and is worried about their daughter, who is struggling with emotional problems. Meanwhile, their son, Mark (Timothy Webber), has returned home to help out on the farm but is constantly clashing with his father over the best way to run the business.

Two other families in the community are also facing their own struggles. The Jones family is dealing with the fallout from a tragic accident that has left their daughter with a permanent disability. They are also trying to save their farm from foreclosure. The Peters family, meanwhile, is dealing with the fallout from a marital affair and trying to decide whether to stay together or divorce.

The final family in the film is that of Reverend Albert Wagner (Ron White), the local pastor who is struggling to find a way to bring the community together and help them weather the difficult times. He is constantly counseling his parishioners and trying to bring them hope and encouragement in the face of overwhelming odds.

Throughout the film, these various storylines intersect and play off one another. Each family is dealing with their own unique problems, but they all share a common bond in their love of the land and their determination to keep their farms going no matter what.

Harvest is a moving portrayal of the struggles facing small farmers in America today. It highlights the difficulties these families face in trying to keep their land, their traditions, and their way of life alive in an economy that seems stacked against them. Despite the challenges they face, however, the characters in the film remain resilient and hopeful, a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

The film is beautifully shot and features stunning scenes of the Nebraska countryside. The performances are strong across the board, with Ted Shackelford standing out in particular as Jack Bateman. He captures the character's mix of pride, stubbornness, and desperation perfectly, making him a deeply sympathetic figure even when he may not always make the best choices.

Overall, Harvest is a powerful and emotional look at the hardships facing small farmers in America today. It is a film that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to make a living off the land or who has ever faced seemingly insurmountable challenges in their life. Despite its somber subject matter, it ultimately offers a message of hope and resilience that is both inspiring and uplifting.