Film Review: Kiss the Water

A Film by Eric Steel

A while back, we were given the opportunity to screen a new film that tells a story about the art of fly tying. Not being the type to pass up an opportunity to watch a good fly fishing film, I wasn't quite sure how well a film centered around fly tying would work. But as I began to watch the film, I was pleasantly surprised with the artistry, the well told story and how it all came together to form a very personal and compelling picture of fly tying and fly fishing for the people and places in the film.

The film revolves around a well-known and widely respected Scottish fly tyer named Megan Boyd and her influence on the art of tying classic Atlantic salmon flies. Her story, as portrayed in the film and told by those who knew her over the years, shows a true dedication to the art of fly tying, starting from a young age, marked by a gritty determination to attain perfection in the flies she would tie. In addition to the focus on the eccentric Ms. Boyd, the filmmakers struck an excellent balance with showing the plight and importance of the mighty Atlantic salmon and painted a wonderful picture of the sport.

From an aesthetic nature, the film features great cinematography, wonderful snippets of an Atlantic Salmon fly being dressed and some dream-like artistic animations expertly woven in to augment the film footage. For the fly tyers out there, this is a film that would strike a chord with anyone who has  been driven to pursue fly tying as not only a means to an end but a rich journey of enjoyment and constant pursuit of perfection. In fact, Ms. Boyd was so focused on her art and had such high esteem for the fish they would catch, she herself never caught a salmon for fear it would die.

If you're not one of the lucky ones that has a showing at your local theater, here's a link where you can see the film. If you'd like to download, buy or watch online, you can use the code FLYFISHFOOD and get a discount. (for the record, we have no dog in the fight here and aren't compensated in any way).

See it here:    http://kissthewater.vhx.tv/