Three things to know about… And in the middle flows a river

Robert Redford’s third feature film is being broadcast this Sunday at 9 p.m. on Arte.

The adaptation of a popular short story

Set in early 20th century Montana, And in the middle flows a river depicts the relationship between two brothers, once estranged in life, who will reunite around their shared passion for fly fishing, instilled in their childhood by a father who raised them under the sign of the very rigorous Presbyterian religion. It is an adaptation of The River of the Sixth Dayan autobiographical novel by Norman Maclean, a professor at the University of Chicago, published in 1976, when he had just retired. At the time, the author had difficulty finding a publishing house, as most of his contacts criticized the plot for being too bucolic. So, buoyed by his success in bookstores, he himself was uncompromising in the face of numerous offers to purchase rights from different producers. And he said no many times before accepting Robert Redford’s offer.

He had really fallen in love with this short story when he discovered it in the early 80s, on the advice of friends. And he immediately recognized himself in the environmental, moral and memorial concerns of this work. As if it had been written for him. But it took him a good eight years, many letters and exchanges with its author for the latter to grant him the adaptation rights, on condition that he had a say in the screenplay co-written by Richard Friedenberg (who had just signed the one for Choice to lovestarring Julia Roberts). After making his directorial debut in 1980 with the multi-Oscar-winning People like everyone elseRedford had just finished Milagro, which was presented in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. Released four years later, in 1992, And in the middle flows a river was therefore his third feature film behind the camera.

A long-term casting

Once the project got underway, it attracted a number of actors. Initially, it was considered for a family trio of actors: Lloyd Bridges and his sons Beau and Jeff. Then William Hurt, then fresh from an Oscar for The Kiss of the Spider Womanpushed hard to play Paul Maclean, the younger of the two brothers. To prove his dexterity at fly fishing, he even went to play a game with Norman Maclean… before the latter dampened his hopes by explaining to him that although he was a good fisherman, he was not a good enough actor to play his brother. And if Craig Sheffer (the hero, just before, of Cabal Clive Barker) was chosen early on to play the author, the role of his brother was subject to a long audition. While he had just finished My own private IdahoRiver Phoenix failed. And Brad Pitt thought for a while that he would suffer the same fate. Except that, unhappy with his audition, he managed to send a test tape of another scene and convinced Redford for this role which, a year later his very notable appearance in Thelma and Louiseestablished his lasting popularity with the general public.

Robert Redford’s Career Interview

An Oscar-winning Frenchman

Unsuccessfully nominated for the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay (won by Back to Howards end) and the best music – by Mark Isham – (Alan Menken won with Aladdin), And in the middle flows a river left with a statuette. That of the best photography signed by the Frenchman Philippe Rousselot who notably triumphed over his compatriot Robert Fraisse, the chief operator of The Lover by Jean-Jacques Annaud. Already a César winner for Diva in 1982 and Therese In 1987, Philippe Rousselot’s international career began in 1985 with The Emerald Forest by John Boorman. And he had already been nominated twice for Oscars for Hope and glory in 1988 and Henry & June in 1991. Since then, creator of the light of Larry Flint by Milos Forman, by Big fish by Tim Burton, Sherlock Holmes by Guy Ritchie or even Fantastic Beasts by David Yates, he also reunited with Redford for Lions and Lambs in 2007.