A_River_Runs_Through_It

Chris Wheeler 07/14/2007 Final Draft Professor Werner A River Run’s Through It Robert Redford’s “A River Run’s Through It” is a story about the interpersonal struggles of two boys Norman (Craig Sheffer) and Paul Maclean (Brad Pitt) growing up under the direction of their father, Reverend Maclean’s (Tom Skerritt) Presbyterian directives and perfectionist nature. The story emphasizes the relationship between nature, art and faith while portraying the life of a typical American family in the 1910-1935 time periods. Reverend Maclean believes that there are two things in life that are important: fly fishing and spiritual belief. The Reverend holds the conviction that all good things, trout as well as eternal salvation come by grace and grace comes by art and art does not come easy. This belief system is a direct view of the world as meticulous and well-ordered: nature being an intricate example of perfection painstakingly created by God over half a billion years ago. Art, including the art of fly fishing, is best taught with attention to form and detail with faith best enrooted through study of the regular church attendance and carefully written and revised sermons. Many of the key scenes and moments of the film are captured with the beautiful Big Blackfoot in the backdrop while Norman and Paul fished the river. The river to the Maclean’s was the standard of life. As stated in the opening lines of the movie, “there is no clear line between religion and fly-fishing” for their family. Reverend Maclean spent countless hours teaching the boys the fundamentals of fly fishing as he himself neared perfection. As the story progresses, Norman continues with his fathers’ style however Paul steered away from this traditional four count casting to create his own style in which he called it “shadow casting.” Paul’s style change was significant as it further represented his life away from the river. From the drinking in the Speakeasy to the gambling a Lolo’s, Paul further widened the gap in the principles that his father laid into him so many years before. As Norman returned home from college this was quickly recognized, however Norman was at a loss of action. Paul had always been different through his never giving up attitude and risk taking ideas, however now things were much more severe than getting in a fight with a few boys as he had as a child. Through the movie, Paul constantly pushed everything he did beyond the limits while in many cases bringing Norman into to mix. Norman had just returned home from college and was out catching up with him and Paul’s old friends when Paul’s daredevil attitude kicked in and he decided that they should borrow a boat and “shoot the shoots”. The boys followed Paul as they had so many times before, however as Paul called it, “chickened-out” as it came time to loading the boat into the water. Norman knew that Paul was serious and the bond between the two brothers forced Norman into the boat following suit. As the boat made down the river crashing into sharp boulders as it neared the falls, their friends followed along the banks of the river and watched as the boat went over the falls. The band of friends made there way down to the base only to find the now hammered boat on the bank of the river with the brothers no where in sight. The scene becomes uncomfortably quiet as Redford’s film allows the viewer to feel as though the river has won this battle taking the brothers’ lives. As they call out looking for Paul, he jumps out of the bushes knocking one of his buddies in the water. Sitting up on the hill atop from where Paul jumped out is Norman; hands on his hand and a disapproved look on his face while Paul smiles and continues horsing around in the water below. After returning home to share the news, it is clear that the parents’ are disappointed in the actions their sons have chosen. As Norman sits in the kitchen the tension in Norman’s inner self builds. Paul recognizes this and makes Norman a sandwich, Norman refuses it and a fight breaks out. It is clear at this point in the movie that Norman is displeased with the choices in which his brother makes, but the bond that the family has holds them together. Norman and Paul mend the tension building relationship as they had so many times in the past on the banks of the Big Blackfoot river, once again fly fishing. Throughout the movie Paul continues to struggle with choices he makes such as running up a large gambling tab at Lolo’s and drinking to the point where he becomes belligerent, finally being picked up by the police. Each time Norman is there to try to help his brother but never really seems to connect with him to help change the path in which Paul is going. After a long night of Paul being out gambling at Lolo’s, he meets his father and Norman for what would be their last fishing endeavor as a family. On the banks of the river that day, Norman and Reverend Maclean watched as Paul worked to bring in the largest and most prized fish he had ever caught. They watched in amazement as Paul became one with the river and nature as he battled drifting down the rapids to win the fight against the fish. After finally landing it, Norman decides that Paul has peaked in life and felt that this day would never come again, that Paul had mastered perfection in itself. This story, although greatly built with strong roots of fly fishing and religion has further meaning and is much deeper than that in which is said. It is a depiction of beauty and traces the relationship between two brothers growing up in an emotionally constricted household headed by Reverend Maclean. Although both boys follow entirely separate paths, Norman going to college, marrying and settling down while Paul, chooses the more glamorous career of newspaper journalist, alcoholism and gambler – these two very different brothers are held together through the years by a mutual love of fly fishing that their father instilled in them while they were children. Although Voiceover is used throughout the film, it helps the viewer to stay in tune with the true meanings behind the story. This narration further adds a realistic sense to the story, taking away the Hollywood approach that so many other directors fall into. Redford was magnificent in portraying this real life drama just as it happened, allowing Norman to share his story with the world.