A River Runs Through It
Tags: tragedy, autobiographical

Plot synopsis:
The film follows the true story of the Maclean brothers, Norman and Paul, growing up in Missoula, Montana with their father, Presbyterian minister John. A common theme in the film is the men's love of fly fishing for trout in the Blackfoot River and how it impacted their lives. The film is told from Norman's point of view, with director Robert Redford as narrator.
The story begins with the brothers learning to fish from their father, a preacher who treats fishing as a sacred act. The boys become accomplished fishermen as a result. Norman and Paul are home taught and must adhere to the strict moral and educational code of their father. However, whenever they get a chance they enjoy practicing the art of fly fishing. As they grow older, it becomes clear that Norman is the more disciplined and studious brother, while Paul is the fun loving, wild one and the more talented fly fisherman.
Norman attends a July 4th dance with his friends after returning home from six years away at Dartmouth, where he meets his future wife, Jessie Burns. Paul has become a reporter at a newspaper in Helena, the state capital. He has angered many of the locals by falling behind in a big poker game at Lolo, a hamlet near Missoula with a popular bar that is also a front for gambling and prostitution, and by dating a beautiful Blackfoot Indian woman, Mabel, who is deemed to be of an inferior race by the community. Paul gets arrested after fighting a man who insulted her, and Norman is awakened in the middle of the night by a phone call from the police to come bail Paul out of jail.
After Norman and Jessie go on several dates, she insists that Norman make an effort to get along with her brother Neal, who is back in Montana, visiting from California. Norman and Paul do not like the self-centered Neal, who tells tall tales of socializing with film stars in Hollywood, but at Jessie's insistence they invite him to go fishing. Neal shows up drunk with a woman (a part-time prostitute) he met at a bar the evening before. Norman and Paul decide to fish anyway and return to their car hours later to find Neal and his ladyfriend "Rawhide" have drunk all their beer and passed out naked in the sun.
Norman returns a painfully sunburned Neal home, where Jessie is waiting for them. She is angry that the brothers did not fish with Neal. When Norman asks Jessie to drive him home, he tells her that he is falling for her. She drives away angry but a week later asks Norman to come to the train station to see Neal off back to California. After the train departs, Norman shows Jessie a letter from the University of Chicago that is a job offer for an English Literature teaching position. Norman asks Jessie to marry him.
When Norman tells Paul about the job offer and marriage proposal, he also urges Paul to come with him and Jessie to Chicago. Paul tells Norman that he will never leave Montana. Just before leaving for Chicago, Norman, Paul and their father go fly fishing one last time as a family. Paul catches a huge fish that carries him down the river. John proudly tells his son Paul what a wonderful fisherman he has become, much to Paul's delight. They pose for pictures with the huge fish for their mother.
Soon after the fishing excursion, Norman is again contacted by the police. They tell him that Paul has been found beaten to death in an alley, and that all the bones in his right hand have also been broken. Norman goes home and tells his parents the sad news. The story then jumps ahead a few years to a sermon being given by John with Mrs. Maclean, Norman, Jessie and their two children in attendance. The narrator mentions that John dies soon after this sermon. The last scene is of Norman as an old man, back in the Montana river where he used to fish with his family many years ago. He mentions that nearly everyone from his youth is dead, and that he is haunted by waters.

Review: This film makes love to the visual and the word with text by author Norman Maclean, and stunning camera work by Phillippe Rousselot (Serpent's Kiss, Reigne Margot).Redford's cast is perfect.
Tom Skerritt is the Rev. MacLean, a man whose methods of education include fly fishing as well as the Bible, Brenda Blythen, the mother, and his sons, Craig Schaffer and Brad Pitt create a family whose interactions reflect the same problems all encounter with growing teenage sons, and later, complex young men.
It is the relationships between men, father and sons, brothers, and their women to the outside world that grounds A River Runs Through It to a vein of storytelling that is missing in so many of Hollywood films produced in recent years.What makes these relationships special however, is the attention Redford gives to the language as spoken in dialogue.
While nostalgic, I don't think the film ever becomes maudlin, and by the time the film draws to its inevitable close, I feel the same sense of loss and regret every time.This movie does what films are supposed to do - touch one's heart and mind.The closing lines, taken from a short story by McLean, are as haunting as they are beautiful:"But when I am alone in the half light of the canyon all existence seems to fade to a being with my soul and memories.
I have occasionally carried out my times of dry fly fishing, having tied my own flies, and being accompanied by my brother and my father we spend a day on one river or another seeking to tempt the ever elusive Brown Trout to rise and take the fly that has been offered to them.When we had occasions like this any differences between us disappeared and any of the pressures of the world melted away to be replaced by the glory of being absorbed in the activity and the surroundings of the place we were in.This was one of the amazing things that was portrayed to me in the film as the minister and his two sons, Norman and Pauly carried out the ritual.
The 'Art of Fly-fishing' was directed and represented so well that they themselves can be classified as artists.The title for the film could not be more aptly chosen, for the river did in fact run through the life of father and two sons.
As the movie opens, Norman is an old man, flyfishing beside a rushing river, trying to understand the course his own life has taken.
Paul (Brad Pitt) was a misfit from the offset, and lived on the edge...You would think that Montana in the 1920's had no such thing, yet somehow, gambling, drinking, and violent confrontations, were as much a part of Paul, as was his fly fishing rod!!
Breathtaking filmography of bluer than blue mountains and streams captured the youth and effervescence that the Maclean brothers had for life...Seldom in a film do you witness whereby feelings immediately invoke a dogged tenacity to accomplish whatever it may be that someone wishes to accomplish..The Maclean brothers lived life to the fullest, and for better or worse, the father knew that this was going to be the only way the two of them could become men!!...Robert Redford directs this film, and tells the story of the Maclean's through the perspective of the older brother, Norman...Norman gets offered a position at the University of Chicago at age 26, and marries the woman he will always be in love with...What this film also points out, is that the younger brother, Paul, has attained an accomplishment of his own by being the epitome of a remarkable fly fisherman!!
As most human shortcomings go, the Maclean family made light of turbulent waters, (literally) and thus, established unity as a family, by putting necessary blinders on!!!The end of the movie "River Runs Through It" presents an epigram of life through the eyes of the older brother..
Without question, the very prolific statement of "what seems complicated is really very simple" purveys a very acrimonious message in this movie...More simply put...The people and places which were important in Norman's life, are now only a bittersweet memory....merely a painfully intellectual rumination of events which are aggravated by the haunted waters of Montana's beautiful streams and rivers...To which, for the entire Maclean family, "all things merge into one and a river runs through it".
Nor do I think God had banal television programs, media hype, worthless purchases, and soul pollution in mind when he created the universe..." I hadn't seen "A river runs through it" in a couple of years, but after pondering Kinkade's statement something drew me to watch the film with a spiritual eye.
In this movie fly-fishing represents life, a little.The story is good and keeps your attention although there are some moments you need a little action.
I would imagine that Norman Maclean's nostalgic reminiscences of his youth in the first part of the 20th Century, as filmed here by Robert Redford probably means a lot to Americans yearning for the country, which the director drives home with endless variations on the scenic pastoral shot, with actors occasionally dotting the landscape.
Okay, I'm exaggerating, but to a city-bound Scot (and hey, I know my country has a countryside at least the equal of the Montana shown here), I failed to really connect with the story or the characters.Perhaps I watched too many TV episodes of "The Waltons" or "The Mississippi" in my formative years, but found that the family portrait conveyed here and the ups and downs of the two brothers was a little too sentimental, second-hand and, to be honest undramatic, to really engage me.It's entertaining in its undemonstrative way and acted well enough, especially Tom Skerret and Brenda Blethyn as the God-fearing parents but until someone finds a way to make fishing exciting to watch, a film like this which celebrates the art of angling to the extent that this one does, will never quite hit the mark for me.
Tom Skeritt, (Rev. MacLean) plays the role of a very loving parent of Norman MacLean, (Craig Sheffer) who is basically a very straight arrow and also his brother Paul MacLean, (Brad Pitt) who is a newspaper reporter and has a very wild way living especially with drinking and plenty of women.
In fact, as we left the theatre, a small kid summed it up perfectly: "That was a stupid, stupid movie".However, if you like fly fishing, if you're a Robert Redford or Brad Pitt fan you may think differently.
The picture trys to be artistic but fails to pay attentions to the fundamentals of story telling.If you love Montana scenery and fly fishing you will find some value in this film just don't expect a story.
The minister in here (Tom Skerritt) is shown in a kindly light, which is a bit unusual with the secular film business.THE BAD -The story gets boring in spots, there is too much usage of the Lord's name in vain, mainly by the two sons of the minister, particularly Brad Pitt's character.
The old man's narrative in the end was trying to bring across something of deep meaning, but it was simply nonsensical and brought no meaning to an already meaningless film.But hey, if you like looking at really nice woodwork and fly fishing, have at it.
From the serene shots of the majestic and jaw dropping mountains, rivers and forests of Montana to the wondrous score that is executed perfectly from Mark Isham, this is an amazing movie filled with lovely dialogue, perfect acting ( Brad Pitt and Craig Sheffer most importantly) and wonderful poetry.River runs through it is a film I most definitely recommend.
Sit down and watch a tale of two brothers who share a special bond of fly- fishing on the big Blackfoot river where " all things merge into one and a river runs through it" One scene that stood out for me was like " witnessing perfection".
Based on the memoirs of Norman MacLean, American literary scholar, A River Runs Through It is a memoir of him growing up in early 20th Century Montana as the son of a preacher, along with his younger brother.
The parents are played by Tom Skerritt and Brenda Blethyn.With some introductory material showing the characters as children and how their personalities developed, most of the film is concentrated on young Norman MacLean's first summer back in Missoula, Montana with the family after six years at the University Of Chicago.
In his 20 or so years of stardom, go down the list of roles and they range the gamut of the human experience.And if you're not a particular Brad Pitt fan, you'll enjoy A River Runs Through It for the great nature cinematography that is the heart of this film..
Take away the period costumes and the simpering strings score, set it in today's world, and you'd say, "this is a story worthy of a feature film?" I'll sum it up:My brother and I grew up in Missoula, had some rowdy times (like millions of other brothers), I went off to college, he stayed home, I came back to Missoula and met a girl, then brother was killed in a barroom brawl (which is not depicted).
Great acting from Craig Sheffer, Tom Skerritt and especially Brad Pitt who portrays the role of the brother who is outgoing, loves life and enjoys it to the fullest as nobody else can in my opinion.The movie, though, sometimes appears to drag on for no apparent purpose.
The picture tries to be artistic but fails to pay attentions to the fundamentals of story telling.If you love Montana scenery and fly fishing you will find some value in this film just don't expect a story.
Refocusing the story line from the brothers' inarticulate love for one another to a standard "meet cute" romance between Norman and his future wife Jess was probably good for box office, but all I could think of watching Brad Pitt with his strawberry blond dye job and Emily Lloyd slinking around in her blonde finger-wave wig and fragile linen dresses was that Redford was reliving some fixation that originated twenty years previously during the filming of "The Great Gatsby."
Would suggest this movie to anyone looking for great scenes and a lot of energy coming from Brad Pitt's roll as Paul Maclean.
Everything concerned with this film is carefully and artistically performed, Acting is simply brilliant especially Brad Pitt at his best, The Montana scenery is refreshing and just a pure joy to watch and the tale just touches your heart reviving the memories of the joyous times that you spend together with your loved ones.
"A River Runs Through It," like the Norman Maclean memoir on which it is based, is an elegy in which a man's fly fishing technique stands in for his soul.
The opening and closing passages of the memoir, quoted in voice-over in the film, make clear that director Robert Redford, like Maclean, is dealing with Adam's fall from grace, the quite different ways in which two sons of a stern Presbyterian preacher seek redemption -- one by cleaving to the teachings and expectations of his father, the other by rejecting convention and striking out on his own -- and the impossibility of knowing whether their different fates were predestined or might somehow have been avoided.
I am haunted by waters." These words, taken from the book and spoken at the end of the movie (by Robert Redford who is narrating as Norman Maclean), are basically scripture, in my opinion.
this film was just brilliant,casting,location scenery,story,direction,everyone's really suited the part they played,and you could just imagine being there,Robert Redford's is an amazing actor and now the same being director,Norman's father came from the same Scottish island as myself,so i loved the fact there was a real connection with this film,the witty remarks throughout the film were great,it was just brilliant,so much that i bought the film as soon as it was released for retail and would recommend it to everyone to watch,and the fly-fishing was amazing,really cried at the end it was so sad,and you know what they say if you cry at a film it must have been good,and this definitely was, also congratulations to the two little boy's that played the part's of Norman and Paul they were just brilliant,children are often left out of the praising list i think, because the stars that play them all grown up are such a big profile for the whole film,but these children are amazing and should be praised for what they have done, don't you think?
The final narrative, to me, is the ultimate motion picture experience and delivers the promise of what certain movies can do if they set their sights high enough...and that is elevate the viewer and give them an experience that transcends beyond the mere act of watching, but gives lessons in life that one will remember and use for years to come.More than anything, "A River Runs Through It" is about family and how the choices we individually make may take us down different paths, but can never dilute our bonds and love.
I read once Robert Redford (who directed the film) was one of many actors/directors that asked Norman Maclean if he could direct a film based off his popular 1976 novel A River Runs Through It and Other Stories.
Craig Sheffer (as Norman) and Brad Pitt (as Paul) are Montana sons-of-a-preacher man Tom Skerritt (as Reverend Maclean).
The film is often slow and confusing, even if you are familiar with the Norman MacLean story; and, this is a somewhat alternate version/vision of the original written work.And, I realized what I was watching.
You'll know why that memory of the perfect fly fisherman is there.Just a few other thoughts: At the risk of over-analyzing, I felt the characters of Norman, Paul, their father, and Redford merging into ONE character at the end of the film; I wonder if Redford intended it that way?
********* A River Runs Through It (1992) Robert Redford ~ Brad Pitt, Craig Sheffer, Tom Skerritt, Brenda Blethyn.
The beautiful cinematography and Robert Redford's wonderful narration of the text by Norman Maclean pursuaded me to purchase the book.
More than being about "loving completely without complete understanding," and much, much more than about fly fishing, it is ultimately, like most great movies, about the joy we find in life from the beauty of the world around us and the people we love..
I had read in a magazine that Robert Redford was directing a movie based on a book about a family who enjoyed fly-fishing in Montana.
From the first scenes of the movie with Redford's voice narrating the past of this little Montana town inhabited by the Maclean's, one has the feeling that although one of the principal vehicles of Maclean telling the story is fly fishing, there is going to be much more to the story.
The acting by Tom Skeritt and Brad Bitt was exceptional, although the remainder of the cast was OK at best.What this film is all about is a fabulous story about life, and an even better celebration of nature.
I can't remember where exactly I heard it first, but some time during my years of working on a B.A. in English one of my teachers said that one of the most beautiful things there is is a "story well told."  This movie, and book, clearly demonstrate that.
A Reviewer Sleeps Through It. I have recently watched - inexplicably for the second time - Robert Redford's film, A River Runs Through It.This movie may not have won a mittful of awards, but it has been recommended by the International Society of Sleep Disorder Orderlies for its powerful sedative effects.Brad Pitt plays Paul, the ne'er-do-well brother of Norman, played by Craig Sheffer.
And as such, it does succeed--for it's a beautiful film to look at.But by the time the end credits roll, you realize that what there is of a story is so vague in outline, so weak in imparting any truths, so muddled in whatever message was intended, that it's been a waste of a couple of hours of your life.CRAIG SHEFFER is merely bland as the older brother who secretly envies the free-wheeling, laid back lifestyle of his fly-fishing brother, BRAD PITT.
But this movie is basically popular for having young Brad Pitt in it as the younger brother Paul Maclean.
I am an avid Brad Pitt fan and I love to fly fish, so I was drawn to this movie.
The acting is great from Tom Skerritt to Brad Pitt.I enjoyed all the characters in this film and can't wait for it to come to DVD so I can purchase it.
I was expecting the collaboration of Robert Redford and Brad Pitt to be something stellar but the River runs through it is clearly not that film.
I was expecting the collaboration of Robert Redford and Brad Pitt to be something stellar but the River runs through it is clearly not that film.
We have videos of many of Redford 's movies and we have watched "A River runs through it" many times.
We have videos of many of Redford 's movies and we have watched "A River runs through it" many times.
We never get tired of Redford's perception of Norman Maclean writings, and the beauty of Montana."This is one of my most favourite movies of all times, nice story..
The story about two sons of a stern minister (Tom Skerritt) -- one reserved, one rebellious -- growing up in rural Montana while devoted to fly fishing.This is one of those films that catapulted Brad Pitt to stardom.
A River Runs Through It is based on the true story of two fly fishing brothers, Norman and Paul, (Brad Pitt and Craig Sheffer) whose Reverend father (Tom Skerritt) is a strict man whose two passions are his faith and fly fishing, - and, for him and his sons, there is a fine line between the two.