The love between father and son that fades into the heart and memory

Sigurd 2021-12-22 08:01:23


Reprinted from the Internet,


every person has once in his life asking the same sentence to the one he loves: "Lord! We are willing to help." But, what can I do for you? Indeed, we cannot help our loved ones. We don't know which part of ourselves we want to give; however, often the part we give is not what the other party needs. Therefore, among the relatives who live with us, we should know who will escape us; however, we will still love them, love them completely, but do not need to know them completely.


── Pastor McLean’s sermon on Sunday before his death──Twelve

years in a person’s life may not be too long; however, for a person who has the courage to explore life and seek the ultimate meaning of life, it is enough as a connotation A period of faith and breakthrough in life; Robert. Robert Redford is one such self-challenging director. In the film "Ordinary People" that he directed for the first time in 1980, he explored the hidden mother-child communication crisis in an urban middle-class family (Note 1), after the eyes and ears of a new world; and in the film "Lover on the River" filmed in 1992 , A profound depiction of the parent-child family education and restriction of a rural pastor's family (Note 2), showing the mature style of becoming a master of film. These works specifically express Robert Redford's concern for family love, and further explore the ultimate care of life; in many mainstream Hollywood movies that are in charge of entertainment, it seems to be a clear stream, washing the hearts of the audience.

Robert Redford made an important decision when filming "Lover on the River", that is, to retain the first-person point of view in the original work. The author, Norman Maclean, personally narrated the story of his family; it made the audience available. I feel that it is more than just seeing some people's accidents, and understanding that this is the author's growth experience and the life principles learned in it. If you ignore these principles, this is just a story about people growing up and fishing in the magnificent mountains and rivers. Just like this, the promotional slogan staged in Taiwan—a refreshing river environmental protection film.

If there is anything missing in this film, it is that it is a meticulous work that easily loses its subtle meaning and connection; because the image style of the front and back third of the film shows the mystery and charm of the natural scenery of Montana in the western United States. , Let the audience fully feel a kind of spiritual joy and peace of mind, but ignore the psychological changes of the characters in the play.

In fact, this poetic film is about a father teaching his sons about his life beliefs and life principles, as well as the communication and restrictions between family relationships. In the film, Pastor Macleans, in addition to worshiping and raising his sons on Sundays, teaches them the technique of fly fishing (Note 3) in a semi-scientific and semi-religious way to experience the life of nature created by God law. Fly fishing is not only a four-tempo technique within the range of ten o'clock to two o'clock, but also a family activity that communicates emotions between Macleans and his son and conveys the value of experience.

As far as Puritan ethics is concerned, this activity is a complete metaphor in the kingdom of God-equal to art, intuition, and technical knowledge. It can be said to be the best individual and group activity. Anglers always try to surpass the general fishing principles, find their own rhythm of throwing, and strive to achieve the perfect combination of strength and beauty. For Pastor Macleans, only by mastering the rhythm of God can we regain strength and beauty; all goodness—whether eternal salvation or fishing for trout—because of the grace of God. It also comes from art, and art is not easy to obtain (Note 4).

Under the same conviction and teaching of their father, the older brother Norman and younger brother Paul have been dealing with all things since they were young, but they have gradually grown up with a distinction between what is done right and what is done beautifully. Norman has been obedient and taught since he was a child. Under his father’s strict guidance, he wrote a concise and clear article and his father’s fly-fishing technique; when he grew up, he became a professor of literature at the University of Chicago, adding a lot of brilliance to his father. . Paul has been rebellious since he was a child, and has a strong drive for self-achievement in his heart; from refusing to eat the oats that God has given people as food for thousands of years in the morning, to giving up his father’s ten o’clock to two o’clock when he grows up. Toss the rope, create your own shadow fishing method (Note 5), and become a first-class fly fishing master.

When Macleans and his son were fishing together for the last time, Paul had a perfect skill in shadow fishing and won the title of genius given by his father. However, the drive for self-achievement can easily become a drive for self-destruction when he loses his direction in life; under the entanglement of gambling and alcoholism, Paul completed his life at a very young age and left it to his family. Infinite grief and regret.

After Paul's death, Pastor McLean asked Norman about Paul once. From the conversations, I learned that both parties assumed that the other knew about Paul, but apart from knowing that he was a genius angler, they had nothing to do with others. As we all know, we deeply regret not being able to help Paul out of the predicament. The pastor said to Norman: "You are too young to help anyone, but I am too old. The so-called help is not some kind of courtesy, such as supplying wild cherry jam or giving money; but Give a part of yourself to someone so that he can accept it readily and urgently need it.” Perhaps, based on the understanding of the needs and limitations of human nature, Pastor McLean’s Sunday sermon before his death revealed him The feeling that has been hidden in the heart for a long time; and it ends with the mood of the following poem (Note 6):

The love between father and son that fades into the heart and memory

Liu Zhenou's

memory is not completely chaotic, nor naked;
it came for the pursuit of glory Into the world.
We leave from God's homeland, although the flowers and spring grass are no longer, we are no longer sad;
in the declining flowers and grass, we work hard to plant.
The original sympathy cannot be lost, the peace of mind during suffering cannot be lost, and
death can be seen through the faith of love .
Thank you for your mind! Thank you for your tenderness, joy and fear!
In my opinion: when the most humble flower blooms, it can also make those who have washed their faces with tears for many years to reflect.


Director Robert. Ruifu and photographer Philippe. Philippe Rousselet captures the transformation of important moments in the lives of the Macleans family in a surprising way of Visual Formalism: fishing on the Blackfoot River, the priest’s Sunday sermon, and the Mann received the letter of appointment from the University of Chicago, the news of Paul's death, and Norman's retrospective memories before and after the film, which deeply depicted the hidden flow of emotions. One of the scenes that moved me the most was when Norman announced at a rare family reunion dinner that he had received an offer from the University of Chicago; there was a moment of silence, and a feeling of pride and joy filled the entire restaurant.

The pastor and his wife quickly exchanged a knowing smile, and said at the same time: "My dear! Look! Our son." The joy of the couple replaced the original curiosity of asking Paul about new things, a reaction. The camera captured Paul's shock when he heard the news, and then turned into a happy face; at this moment, Paul knew that he would never leave Montana.

The Big Blackfoot River is a family river, telling the joys and sorrows of the Macleans family. Pastor Macleans attentively taught his sons to experience the laws of nature created by God; the younger son, Paul, got rid of all the laws of nature, like a work of art, standing high above the river; the elder son Norman would follow his father’s instructions and be clear I know: Life is not art, and that moment will not last long. When Norman McLean was old, he looked back on his years of growing up on the banks of the Big Blackfoot and wrote the stories of his own family—the stories of those who lived with him, loved, and who deserved to know but did not. , A river runs through all memories, and all people, things, things, and scenes fade into the depths of the soul.

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Extended Reading
  • Rozella 2022-03-28 09:01:04

    It must have been more like the Redford Party director to have him play father and son with Pitt. The love of the river, the love of father and son, the brotherhood of brotherhood. The eldest son stands out and the younger son is ignorant. The dead are so galloping.

  • Anthony 2021-12-22 08:01:23

    Complete love does not require complete understanding.

A River Runs Through It quotes

  • Older Norman: [narrating] My father was very sure about certain matters pertaining to the universe. To him, all good things - trout as well as eternal salvation - came by grace; and grace comes by art; and art does not come easy.

  • Paul Maclean: [to Norman] Oh, I'll never leave Montana, brother.