The River

The River (1984)

Genres - Drama, Nature  |   Sub-Genres - Family Drama, Rural Drama  |   Release Date - Dec 1, 1984 (USA), Dec 19, 1984 (USA - Unknown)  |   Run Time - 122 min.  |   Countries - United States  |   MPAA Rating - PG13
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Synopsis by Karl Williams

This socially conscious family farm drama from director Mark Rydell was his follow up to the Oscar-winning On Golden Pond (1981). Mel Gibson and Sissy Spacek star as Tom and Mae Garvey, struggling Tennessee farmers constantly one step away from foreclosing. Their farm sits next to a river that both nourishes their land and constantly threatens to overflow its banks and destroy their crops. The Garveys sell some of their equipment for obscenely low prices at a foreclosure auction, at which some of their neighbors are forced to give up everything they own. The stoic Tom takes a job as a scab at a mill where the union workers are striking. Meanwhile, Mae has a platonic flirtation with local bank manager Joe (Scott Glenn), who saves her life when she's trapped under a heavy piece of farm equipment. Tom's homecoming is cut short by a flood, but the raging waters allow him to become a hero to his family again. The River was the third in a trio of dramas depicting the plight of the American family farmer released that same year.

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Keywords

auction, farmer, flood, foreclosure, labor-issues, river, scab, husband-and-wife