David James Duncan on “Low & Clear”

As if the film needed more accolades, “Low & Clear” continues to rack up praise outside of the fly fishing industry. Its makers, Tyler Hughen and Kahlil Hudson were named two of the top new filmmakers of 2013 by Paste Magazine and scored another accolade from noted fly fishing writer and conservationist David James Duncan, author of The River Why.  Duncan had this to say:

“Low & Clear” is as stealthy as the fly fishers it portrays. Though its premise sounds innocent—two skilled pals sally forth to catch and release a few fish—trouble sneaks into the equation and the filmmakers follow it deep. Where does meaning lie? How can fishing with a friend so easily become fishing against that friend’s entire approach to life? Bard vs. Bubba. High Church vs. Low. Meditation vs. Predation. Norman vs. Paul Maclean, Hemingway vs. Everyman, Lee Wulff vs. some imaginary “record.” Funny, poetic, beautifully filmed, and as mercilessly revealing as a fine Broadway drama, the fishing adventures of JT and Xenie are a classic study of a sport that can move friends, fast as weather, from camaraderie to rivalry, delight to ruefulness, deep satisfaction to borderline rage.