Lydia Davis

Engl 112L
Due: Nov 2

Comparative Essay

The book The Milagro Beanfield War and the movie are far different. They're were many
parts that were taken out, added in, and even substituted. These changes were probably made to
make the movie more streamlined than the book was. Pieces that were altered were done
tastefully and I think, not only added to the story but also kept the focus on the important parts.
Right from the beginning there were noticeable modifications. Firstly, in the book there
was a pig that terrorized the town, same as in the movie. The difference is that the pig in the
book belongs to Pacheco, but in the movie it belongs to Amarante. There is also the alteration of
the character Pacheco not even existing in the movie. In Addition to these, the major difference
between the two is that in the novel Joe Mondragon irrigates the field on purpose, contrary to in
the film. In my opinion, this takes away from joes character. It makes him seem to be a far less
inflammatory person because in the book, whatever Joe does, he does it with conviction and
without regard for the repercussions. The film version has a much more innocent take on
Mondragon, it also pains him as a victim.
Characters in the movie are also changed in their personalities. For example Ruby
Archuleta is much stronger force in the movie. It's seen best in the church city meeting scene,
when I was reading this in the novel I got the feeling that ruby was unsure of herself and even a
bit shy when she gave her speech. The film version shows Ruby demanding the attention and
respect of the townspeople and this carries on in her throughout the movie. It makes the town

feel less helpless than it was portrayed when reading. The movie also adds the feeling that the
town has a mystical help in the added Saint character that talks to Amarante.
More small adjustments can be observed if one watches closely. In the scene which Joes
cow the book tells that it got loose while he was storing it in Pachecos field. The film shows the
police luring it out of the mayors field. Also when joes comes to get his cow, the novel tells that
Joe brought some friends with him for backup while the movie shows him arriving by himself
and then being backed up but some townspeople who just happened to be there.
In the later half of the two versions the modifications are more apparent. In the book
Amarante shoots straight in the bar 26 times while the movie shows only once. Then later,
instead of Joe shooting Pacheco like the book says, Joe, shoots Amarante's pig and then
Amarante himself. Then in the movie he goes into hiding in the mountains, while the novel says
that he hid out with the VISTA volunteer, Herbie Goldfarb. The movie also takes no time to
incorporate the comedic hardships that Herbie goes through. There is so scene where he battles
the rattlesnakes or deals with the horrific sounds that comes from the neighbors rabbits and
chickens. There isn't even the scene where he accidentally starts the gunfight. At the end of the
two stories they come together again when Kyril isn't able to arrest Joe, the development is
pushed back, and the town celebrates their victory.