The River (1984)
Directed by Mark Rydell, The River (1984) is an American drama film about the Garvey family – Tom and Mae, their children, and their struggle to make ends meet on their East Tennessee farm. Along with their neighbors, they have been facing challenges due to a weak economy and declining land values. The main issue for the Garveys is that their farmland is constantly prone to floods due to its proximity to a river. This situation is being exploited by powerful figures in the community such as Senator Neiswinder and the local bank. Adding to this misfortune is Joe Wade – a former resident who now owns the local mill and sets grain prices – who has been secretly attempting to buy up properties along the river in order to build a dam. While he claims it would benefit the community by providing electricity and irrigation opportunities for non-river properties like his own, his true motives may be more self-serving.
Wade’s actions, along with various other challenges in their farming business, have made it increasingly arduous for Tom and Mae to maintain ownership of their land. Despite this, Tom is determined to remain on the property that has been passed down through his family. In order to avoid losing their farm, Tom accepts a job at a steel factory through his cousin. However, upon arriving at the factory, Tom realizes he will be crossing picket lines as a strikebreaker. The work at the mill proves to be grueling and the pay is minimal. This leaves the rest of the Garvey family to tend to the farm without Tom’s help. Meanwhile, Mae suffers an accident on the farm which results in significant blood loss and nearly cost her arm. Some time later, Tom urges his family to come visit him in the city where they discuss how they are managing their separate lives now that they are apart.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Sissy SpacekMae Garvey  Mel GibsonTom Garvey  Scott GlennJoe Wade  Billy Green BushHarve Stanley  James TolkanHoward Simpson |
Directed by Mark Rydell, The River (1984) is an American drama film about the Garvey family – Tom and Mae, their children, and their struggle to make ends meet on their East Tennessee farm. Along with their neighbors, they have been facing challenges due to a weak economy and declining land values. The main issue for the Garveys is that their farmland is constantly prone to floods due to its proximity to a river. This situation is being exploited by powerful figures in the community such as Senator Neiswinder and the local bank. Adding to this misfortune is Joe Wade – a former resident who now owns the local mill and sets grain prices – who has been secretly attempting to buy up properties along the river in order to build a dam. While he claims it would benefit the community by providing electricity and irrigation opportunities for non-river properties like his own, his true motives may be more self-serving.
Wade’s actions, along with various other challenges in their farming business, have made it increasingly arduous for Tom and Mae to maintain ownership of their land. Despite this, Tom is determined to remain on the property that has been passed down through his family. In order to avoid losing their farm, Tom accepts a job at a steel factory through his cousin. However, upon arriving at the factory, Tom realizes he will be crossing picket lines as a strikebreaker. The work at the mill proves to be grueling and the pay is minimal. This leaves the rest of the Garvey family to tend to the farm without Tom’s help. Meanwhile, Mae suffers an accident on the farm which results in significant blood loss and nearly cost her arm. Some time later, Tom urges his family to come visit him in the city where they discuss how they are managing their separate lives now that they are apart.
