Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Water Is Wide (#55.2) Soundtrack (

Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Water Is Wide (#55.2) Soundtrack (2006) cover

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Rating: 7.00/10 from 454 votes
Alternate Names:
Title in Español:

Weites Wasser
Title in Italiano:

The Water Is Wide
Title in Português:

The Water Is Wide

Synopsis

Jeff Hephner stars as a young Pat Conroy, an idealistic young teacher who, having failed to trade his military academy education for a spot in the 1969 Peace Corps, finds a first teaching position on an isolated Sea Island off Charleston, South Carolina.

Yamacraw Island (actually Daufuskie Island, now a wealthy resort location with almost no original inhabitants remaining) is an impoverished, almost all African-American spot on the Atlantic Coast with a two-room schoolhouse housing grades 1-8. The only whites on the island control the store, the library (only opened if someone wants a specific book), the post office, and the ferry to the mainland. The Blacks are subsistence farmers. Now that the local school has been merged into the larger county school district, the superintendent (Frank Langella) is attempting to provide a very unspecified "better education" for the island's children, although he seems more impressed with Conroy's school and parental knowledge of the rigidness of the "chain of command."

The young Conroy finds the island school a disaster. His "principal," Mrs. Brown (Alfre Woodard), uses tough love (beatings and verbal humiliation) to teach her students "manners" but little else. The students in grades 5-8 cannot read or write, do not know which nation they live in, and have no idea of what the ocean which surrounds them is called. They know no mathematics. They do not even have any grasp of their own history.

Struggling against Mrs. Brown, Assistant Superintendent Bennington (James Murtaugh), the local whites, and the Superintendent's chain of command, Conroy brings the students to life, showing them films (which they have never seen), reading them stories, connecting them to maps, and listening to the life stories of the kids. He even manages a field trip off the island, a first for almost every child.

In response the children begin to flourish, moving ahead dramatically both academically and personally, and Conroy seems to find a real mission in life.

But, 1969 being much like today, the powers that be have no real interest in these poor children receiving an actual education, rather, they much prefer Mrs. Brown's stability and lessons in compliance. In the end, Conroy is not asked to return to Yamacraw for a second year, and moves on to marriage on the mainland, and other jobs, and eventually, his career as an author.

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Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Water Is Wide (#55.2)

User reviews

David Turner
1/10

Another criticism I have is that the soundtrack did not effectively convey the sense of isolation and cultural clash experienced by the characters on Yamacraw Island. The music did not create a sense of place or immerse the audience in the unique setting of an impoverished, African-American community struggling for education and identity. It missed the chance to evoke the tension and complexity of the story, resulting in a missed opportunity for emotional resonance.

Patricia Gonzalez
8/10

The score effectively conveys the tension between the different characters and the challenges they face, creating a rich and engaging viewing experience.

Daniel Johnson
7/10

The music enhances the storytelling by adding layers of complexity and authenticity to the scenes set in the isolated Sea Island off Charleston, South Carolina.

Emily Miller
7/10

The use of traditional Southern melodies in the soundtrack adds a sense of time and place, immersing the audience in the setting of the film.

Timothy Turner
5/10

The use of music in key moments of the film helps to underscore the themes of education, resilience, and social injustice portrayed in the story.

Ashley Campbell
10/10

The soundtrack beautifully complements the setting of the isolated Sea Island off Charleston, South Carolina, transporting the audience to the unique atmosphere of Yamacraw Island. The powerful compositions help convey the struggles and triumphs of the characters, making the viewer feel deeply connected to their experiences and emotions.

Linda Robinson
6/10

The music used in the film beautifully complements the setting of an isolated Sea Island off Charleston, South Carolina, creating a sense of place and atmosphere.

Ronald Lopez
5/10

The soundtrack of the film successfully evokes a sense of hope and inspiration as the young teacher, played by Jeff Hephner, strives to make a difference in the lives of his students.

Joseph Campbell
8/10

The soundtrack beautifully underscores the moments of growth and transformation, highlighting the resilience and spirit of the children on Yamacraw Island.