We’ve written in the past about the documentary Low and Clear. A couple of years ago I was pretty excited just by the trailer. This week, when my pre-order DVD came in the mail, I finally got to see the whole thing.
At its core, Low and Clear takes a look at why we fly fish and how the relationships with those we fish with contribute to our goals as anglers. As you may know, the film focuses on JT Van Zandt (son of perhaps the greatest Texas singer/song writer that ever lived—though the film doesn’t explore his lineage much) and Xenie, an obsessive trout bum who may be one of the finest anglers in Colorado. JT and Xenie have been fishing companions for a long time, but their lives have taken them away from each other. The core of the story is a reunion trip to BC to fish for steelhead. There, amidst the low and clear steelhead rivers, surrounded by the snow, the story pits JTs dogged loyalty to his fly fishing principles against Xenie’s uncanny ability to catch steelhead doing the very things JT would rather not.
There are some unforgettable scenes, especially those with Xenie catching fish (at one point he hooks a steelhead while wondering out loud why J.T. doesn’t fish the way he is fishing—now that is a compelling argument) or Xenie reacting to catching fish (“It’s like mainlining some drug” he says at one point). We also get JT with an insanely clenched jaw, some incredible cinematography, and an excellent climax that the fishing gods seemed to have dreamed up just to make the whole thing work.
I liked Low and Clear for the great story and more. I like that it was mining territory most fly fishing films ignore—a story about people (living up to my hopes after seeing the trailer). I liked that it made me think about just about every fishing partner I have ever had and wonder if we weren’t a little like Xenie and JT. I liked that it made me want to go to B.C. and fish, preferably with Xenie and J.T.
If you get a chance, see it. You won’t regret it.
