A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

US, 1992, 123 minutes, Colour.
Brad Pitt, Tom Skerrit, Craig Shaffer, Brenda Blethyn, Emily Lloyd.
Directed by Robert Redford.

A River Runs Through It is adapted from the memoirs of Norman Mc Lean, professor of Literature and Chicago University. The focus is on growing up in the early 20th century in a Montana town. The adaptation was made by Richard Freedenberg (Bitter Harvest, The Promise, Dying Young). The film was directed by Robert Redford, showing the sensitivity in his previous films, Ordinary People and The Milagro Beanfield War. The film won an Academy Award for its director of photography, Philip Rousselot.

Craig Sheffer (That Was Then, This is Now) portrays the young Mc Lean. Brad Pitt, looking remarkably like Robert Redford himself and exhibiting some of his mannerisms (Johnny Suede, Thelma & Louise) is Mc Lean's brother Paul. Tom Skerritt has a good role as their father and Emily Lloyd is Norman's wife. The film takes us back to the nostalgic beauty of the turn of the century - yet shows the darker side with strict Presbyterian religion as well as the lawlessness of some of the outposts of the west. Yet, the river runs through the film as well as the lives of the McLean? family. Expert as fly fishing - and fly fishing becomes a symbol of life, art and control and achievement. While the film evokes the period, some of the dialogue has a much more modern tone which has an atmosphere of an anachronism. However, the film is an appealing piece of Americana.

1. The work of Norman Mc Lean, a novel adapted for the screen, the retention of his voice over and quotations from his book? The directorial work of Robert Redford, sensitivity? A piece of Americana?

2. The title and its focus, Montana and the early decades of the 20th century, the mountains and the river? The water theme? The re-creation of the period? The musical score?

3. The flashback structure of the screenplay, the older Normans memoirs the nostalgia, the memories, the surfacing of hard memories, the healing of memories?

4. The adaptation of novel, its tone, visual images, the use of its words, feeling? The symbolism of the river and the symbolism of fly fishing?

5. The older Norman, speaking, fishing at the river, fixing the fly as bait? The opening comments about fishing and religion in the Mclean household? Fly fishing as a symbol - of life, art and life? And the continued perspective of the voice over interpreting Norman and Paul's life?

6. Rev. Mc Lean and his wife, the image of the family and their bonds? The Scots background, settling in Montana, the old world to the new world? Husband and wife, parents and children, discipline? The religious background, Scots Presbyterian, strict interpretation? Preparing sermons, theology and spirituality of his sermon? Yet his going fishing with the boys, teaching them, giving them a role model? The quiet mother? The passing of the years, the boys growing up? The boys and their behaviour behind their parent’s back?

7. The two boys and their growing up together, the difference in age, the bonds, Norman quiet, Paul rowdier? At home, mischief, discipline? At school? The fishing and Paul's achievement? Church? Their sharing, Paul and his stubbornness in not eating the oats? The developing differences between the boys? In town, school? Seeing the prostitutes in the town and Paul's reaction? The fights, boxing skills? Telling yarns with the other boys?

8. Growing up, sharing? The parents and their growing older? The outbreak of the war and its effect on the town? Norman and his scholarship, going East, going away for six years? The range of his experiences, love of literature, teaching? The distance between himself and his family? Paul and his staying at home, going work, the paper in Helena, writing, his gambling and drinking, the women.? And yet his skill in fishing - and his wanting to be a professional fly fisher? The different personalities?

9. Norman's return, his parents? The interview with his father in the study? Paul not there? Going to see him at his work? The yarns with their friends and the
resumption of bonds? At church? Fishing with their father? Paul and his skills? At home with their parents - anal their delight in listening to Paul's stories?

10. The meeting with Jessie, dancing, her reaction? The difference between the Methodist and the Presbyterians? Phone call, Jessie going out with Norman? His not realising his is in love, pursuing her, the conversations with his family, with Paul, Eventual realisation that he was in love and would propose? The outing at the club with Paul and the Indian girl, Paul taking a stance against racism? The dancing? Norman invited to visit the Burns household? Neal and his return? The dislike of Neal? His looking like a film star, talking tennis and Ronald Coleman? Jessie arranging for the fishing? Mr and Mrs Burns and their pressure? His asking Paul to go fishing? Neal being late, arriving with the prostitute? The encounter in the bar with Norman
and Neal and the prostitute? His not fishing, lying in the sun, sever burns and return? Jessie's reaction against Norman not looking after her brother? The clash? The eventual phone calls, visit and forgiveness? Neal inviting Norman to farewell him? The observations about people and emotional needs and the inability of family to reach out? Jessie and Neal, Norman and Paul?

11. The bonds between Norman and Paul, going out, the club, Paul and his gambling? Being ousted? Going to the jail and picking him up? His reappearance at home bright and as if nothing had happened? Yet the pathos of his death and Norman having to go to the jail? Breaking the news to his parents?

12. Norman and the offer of the job in Chicago, the decision to propose to Jessie, their marriage? His love of literature and teaching? Jessie going to Chicago, the family?

13. The portrait of the Burns family, the Methodist background, parents, the celebrations, fussing over Neal? His being spoilt, disturbed, his behaviour with the
prostitute, fishing, with Neal? His going back to California?

14. The prostitute in the Montana town, the prostitute at the bar, Rawhide and her background? Going fishing and the sunburn? The bars, gambling, the brutality inherent in the clubs?

15. Paul's death and the effect on the family? Norman and his remembering his father's final sermon - with the references to Paul and the inability to help him?

16. American images, the past? Nostalgia and realism? The American family, strengths and weaknesses? A memoir of the 20th century?