The Milagro Beanfield War

The Milagro Beanfield War is a 1988 American drama film based on the John Nichols novel of the same name. It was directed by Robert Redford and the screenplay was written by Nichols and David S. Ward. The ensemble cast includes Ruben Blades, Snia Braga, Julie Carmen, Melanie Griffith, John Heard, Daniel Stern, Chick Vennera, James Gammon and Christopher Walken.

Nearly 500 residents of the agricultural community of Milagro in the mountains of northern New Mexico face a crisis when politicians and business interests make a backroom deal to usurp the towns water in order to pave the way for a land buyout. Due to the new laws, Joe Mondragon is unable to make a living farming because he is not allowed to divert water from an irrigation ditch that runs past his property.Frustrated, and unable to find work, Joe visits his fathers field. He happens upon a tag that reads prohibited covering a valve on the irrigation ditch. He kicks the valve, unintentionally breaking it, allowing water to flood his fields. He decides against repairing the valve and instead decides to plant beans in the field. This leads to a confrontation with powerful state interests, including a hired gun brought in from out of town. ........

Source: Wikipedia