A River Runs Through It (1992)

'A River Runs through it' was a 1992 movie by Robert Redford that won an Oscar for Cinematography and rightly so.
I had seen this movie 3-4 years back and was touched by it. Today i decided to watch it again. Needless to say i felt the same, reminded again why i really liked it.

Its a powerful example of a simple story told simply through the eyes of someone who's a part of the story. Its strongest point is its setting. A true testament to the beauty of the American wilderness. Each of those scenes of fly fishing would make you wish you could taste, smell this place, get into the water and feel it drench your trousers slowly.

The second strong point is its cast. Craig Sheffer as the father and Brad Pitt, Tom Skeritt as the two sons. At times in the movie you can sense the strong bond every father would want to have with his kids, a bond that doesnt require hugs or kisses, a gentlemanly handshake does just as well.

Reverend Maclean is a Prebysterian minister in the small town of Montana. He has two sons, Paul (Brad Pitt) and Norman (Tom Skeritt). Their mother is a simple small town housewife who takes care of her kids and respects her husband.

the story revolves around the growing up of the kids and how Norman goes to college far away eventually landing up a job as Literature Prof in Chicago. Meanwhile younger brother Paul stays back in Montana and becomes a journalist.

The father and sons have a family ritual of fly fishing which bonds them together. in these scenes you would see the striking beauty of the American countryside, rocky rapids and full trees.

the movie is narrated by an old Norman looking back at his life.

What i really loved about this movies was its simplicity, something that ALL hindi movies lack. Maybe its just the way we are. We cannot portray emotion without hysterics, without oodles of glycerine and shrill screaming. The scene where the family loses its son is so quiet, so peaceful that the peace, the stillness strikes you and makes you feel the pain the mother is feeling. The still face of the mother and the absurd question by the father ' Which hand' is a zillion times stronger than Shahrukh khan trembling at the feet of Amitabh Bachhan. Why do we need to overact and over complicate scenes is something i will never get. The most effective dialogue is the most simple dialogue. Yet we see our actors screaming 'Bhagwan ne mere saath kyun kiya etc etc', it insults my intelligence and makes me feel like the director is telling me 'I dont think you would understand simple dialogues so here take this unbearable, mind numbing screaming'.

The best performance according to me would be Brad Pitt. Brad according to me one of the most versatile actors we have ever seen. After all can you imagine a Fight Club and a Meet Joe Black?

He portrays a deep rooted frustration, a disappointment of having stayed back in Montana after he looks at his brother's life. This has been completely downplayed in the movie but i feel is a strong part of Brad's character. Because he stays back he is supposed to be the master at fly fishing, something that their father connects to perfection. In his mind he mindlessly tries to achieve it, never knowing he actually has it. The scene where he catches the big fish on thier last trip together shows the single minded determination the young man has. He has portrayed to great perfection a young man in a small town smarter than his peers, more open than his peers.
He seems a man who is meant for bigger things, yet has accepted that Montana is his home for life. The way his character is etched out it'l make you feel like caring for him if you yourself have a younger brother. You would want to make sure you are there when he messes up with the folks at the gambling den. He is vulnerable, he is young, he is determined and he is sure of what he's doing, only he doesnt fathom what repercussions his actions would have.

So if you want to watch a light movie about life and its beauty, see how love exists in unsaid words and how bonds exist in distances please watch this one. You would appreciate the fine art of filmmaking that Redford has displayed and it would make you cherish your family a wee bit more.