The Beans of Egypt, Maine 1994

Set in the rural town of Egypt, Maine, the Bean family is a large, poor, backwater clan who are despised by their neighbors, yet remain tightly bound and ready to support one another through trouble.

Rueben Bean, an alcoholic and brawler who frequently runs afoul of the law, anchors the story. He is married to Roberta Bean, and together they raise nine children. All of this is observed by Earlene Pomerleau, a young woman who lives with her widowed father across the street from the Beans’ trailer. From her window, Earlene has watched their world unfold with the draw of a daytime soap, especially the sight of a shirtless Beal Bean, Rueben’s nephew.

Her devout father warns against any contact with the Beans, yet Earlene is drawn to their earthiness, directness, and unity, which stand in sharp contrast to her oppressive home life. This tension threads through the film as she witnesses a world that feels both dangerous and alive.

Trouble begins when Rueben is sent to prison for resisting arrest during an out-of-season deer hunt. Beal takes up with Roberta, and Beal also has a brief affair with Earlene, which results in her pregnancy and leads to her disownment by her father and marriage to Beal as she moves into his trailer. After Earlene gives birth to a daughter, and later a son, the couple’s life together grows harsher: Beal’s infatuation with Roberta persists, poverty tightens its grip, and Beal’s pride at refusing welfare deepens the strain on their household.

Beal’s temper and abusive behavior escalate as he drinks more and becomes physically abusive toward Earlene. A drunken brawl with locals ends with the police called to the trailer; when Beal threatens them with his hunting rifle, they shoot him in self-defense, ending his volatile presence in the story.

With Earlene left to raise her two young children on her own, a flicker of hope appears when Rueben is released from prison. He learns of his nephew Beal’s death and has a quiet, candid conversation with Earlene, agreeing to help support her and Beal’s two children the best he can. The film closes on a note of cautious solidarity, underscoring the idea that family loyalty and mutual aid can endure even after tragedy.

Throughout, the contrast between the Beans’ rugged, loyal togetherness and the harsh judgments of the outside world offers a measured meditation on resilience, pride, and the kinds of bonds that keep a family going when life remains stubbornly hard.