I have always felt that American literary films are always inferior to the British. Personally, I think that the profound cultural heritage of Britain can often give birth to literary sketches with more literary temperament. British literary films are always delicate and soft, while American literary films are often rough, such as this "Love in the River". However, even in the rough style, there is no lack of delicate emotion in the film. The film expresses the most family affection, especially the brotherhood, and the love in the film is a branch line. "Love in the Big River" is a movie of special life, plain and real. It uses time as the narrative thread and the first person as the narrative subject, telling the changes of a family and a river, and the special complex of a generation towards a river. It's just that human life always has an end, and only this great river is endless.
The brothers Norman and Paul displayed very different temperaments from childhood. The former is serious and calm, the latter is full of energy and uninhibited. This can be seen from the different behaviors of the two children when they run to the brothel to peek. Norman was just secretly laughing, and only Paul ran up to the prostitute, twisting his butt and grimacing. However, perhaps it is the identity of the elder brother that makes Norman form this character, the so-called eldest brother is like a father. As the two grew up, Norman studied and educated literature, while Paul became a journalist. These two different occupations also correspond to their personalities - reporters are always more gimmicky than teachers. For parents, Norman is their pride, and Paul brings them more happiness and joy. Maybe they would prefer to combine the two children. I think there is a gap between Norman and Paul, but the ever-growing river always creates more opportunities for them to communicate. Only when they were fishing together, all the troubles, all the differences were taken away by the river, and only the joy and complete release and the memories of childhood were left. Even though, these only exist for that moment.
The film was beautifully shot, no doubt about that. Whether it is galloping rivers, majestic mountains and deep canyons, or shining forests and ever-changing clouds, people can't help but sigh at the magnificence and magic of nature. And Brad Pitt's role seems to have become a scene in the movie. This superstar who fascinated women and even men all over the world did not have the prestige at that time. Although the performance in this film was a little green, but this film with no commercial flavor has made Pete, who is now getting together with commercial blockbusters. With some rare innocence. There is one scene in the movie that left a deep impression on me - the last time the father and son are fishing together, Pitt plays Paul with a proud and proud look on his face as he holds a big trout that has been adjusted many times. People feel a rare simplicity and innocence. I believe that at that moment, the father and son all found the feeling of fishing together back then. Very beautiful and happy.
Although the death of Paul at the end of the film makes every viewer inevitably regret. But maybe that's just his way of life. In his final sermon, Paul's father said, "Those who are closest to us are often the ones we least understand, but we can still love them. We can love with all our heart and soul those we don't know." Some people have things that we cannot fully understand, just as we ourselves are not fully understood, yet love can be fully given.
I have always had a special preference for rivers too. Love the dashing look and cool touch of it. It goes all the way, just like the years we have passed. This is why people always say that time is like water. At the end of the film, "In the end, everything merges into one and goes away with the river." Watching the elderly Norman fishing alone in the Big Blackfoot River alone, watching the sunset reflect the valley's silhouette in the flowing river , I also suddenly felt a sense of loneliness. Many things have passed, and they are all memories. Whether it is talk or silence, they all come to an end or a new life with the river of time. People, always walk with the years.
It is worth mentioning that the director of the film, Robert Redford, looked like Brad Pitt today when he was young. And the young actor Joseph Gordon Levitt, who played the childhood Norman in the film, has now become a rising star in the American film industry. Such three people gather together in such a film about walking with time, which also shows the changing times of American filmmakers.
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