Mike S.

The life stories of Norman Maclean, a revered college professor and writer, and his younger brother Paul, a handsome but hard-drinking and gambling newspaper writer who died an early death. The script is faithful to Norman's book, and the cinematography won an Academy Award. The overarching theme is family and the special pain that comes when you try to help someone who is struggling, but they either don't want the help you offer or what you offer is not what they need. If you have ever lost a family member to substance abuse, alcohol, mental health issues, sexual or gender identity issues, or any number of other things, Norman's fathers' final sermon will speak directly to you. The first time I saw this movie, I didn't quite get it. The scenery was breathtaking, the words profound, the action at times seemed plodding. The second time I saw it, I understood completely, and now I weep each time I watch the final five minutes of this masterpiece. I, too, am haunted by waters.