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Plot Summary
Winner of the Audience Award at SXSW and hailed by Paste magazine as "the best documentary of the year" Low & Clear follows two old friends, J.T. Van Zandt and Alex "Xenie" Hall, on a Winter fly-fishing trip to British Columbia where they learn they've grown apart in more ways than one. J.T., the thoughtful son of songwriting legend Townes Van Zandt, believes there's more to fishing than catching fish. Short-tempered Xenie sees it differently and fishes with a passion bordering on madness. Their different approaches to fishing and life rise and clash on the snowy river banks of British Columbia in this true story of a friendship stretched to the breaking point. An exploration of life, friendship and the bonds that keep us together LOW AND CLEAR unfolds with wry humor and stunning cinematography as two old friends find themselves on a fishing trip that could be their last.
Customer Reviews
Not just for fly fishers.
Even though i am an avid fly-fisherman, i realize there are many people out there that simply are not interested in piscatorial pursuits. I know this because my wife is one. However even she enjoyed the incredible cinematography of "Low and Clear" as well as the overall vibe. It also helped that it's a classic story featuring an "Odd Couple" (Xenie and J.T.) that somehow overcome their differences to enjoy the water and the fish together.
If you're a fly fisher this is a must see up there with the best of them. If you know someone that fly fishes this will help you understand them a little bit more by demonstrating two sides of the same (fishing) coin. After all, opposites attract, and so do this film, rent it today.
Disclaimer: A Review by the Film Director
I suppose it's obvious from the title of this review that I am not your completely objective reviewer, considering that my son, Kahlil Hudson, co-directed this film with Tyler Hughen. Tyler and Kahlil were best friends and fishing buddies back in their high school days, so you might say this film was destined to be produced eventually.
Because this is not just another film about catching fish. It's also an exploration of that more elusive prize: friendship.
After viewing the film several times (and enjoying it each time) I feel the central question posed by the film is: What does it mean to be "the best you can be" at some particular skill? Like, say, the skill involved in spending a couple of weeks wading freezing rivers in British Columbia with an old fishing buddy...
What measure have we we chosen to define the term, "the best"? Number of fish caught and released? The elegance of our cast? Our level of respect for all living things? Our ability to maintain a friendship under difficult circumstances?
In this film, our two subject fishermen, Xenie Hall and J.T. Van Zandt, allowed themselves to be exposed — to the weather, and to the camera — and we learn about how they define the term "the best" in two rather different ways. Luckily for us, the viewers, both Xenie and J.T. share one quality so important to a film documentary: honesty.
Great, Great Story
Great story, cool music, lots of cool views, and of course fly fishing in BC, Colorado, and Texas. Every now and again a fly fishing movie comes along that sets the bar higher and this is definitely the one.
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