Waterland (1992)

67% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
57% of users liked it
(1,652 ratings)

Based on the novel by Graham Swift, this drama follows the past and present crises of schoolteacher Tom Crick (Jeremy Irons), who attempts to resolve the problems in his own life and the apathy of his students by relating stories of his troubled childhood in the English Fens (a marshy region in… More Based on the novel by Graham Swift, this drama follows the past and present crises of schoolteacher Tom Crick (Jeremy Irons), who attempts to resolve the problems in his own life and the apathy of his students by relating stories of his troubled childhood in the English Fens (a marshy region in Britain). ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Stephen Gyllenhaal
Genres: Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Oct 30, 1992 Wide
On DVD: May 9, 2006
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
A flawed adaptation of Swift's novel, though the acting of Jeremy Irons and others is good.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jim H

Based on the novel by Graham Swift - a wonderful British author - <i>Waterland</i> tells the story of a history teacher who tells his students as much about himself as he does history. What is strong about the novel is what is weak about the film. The novel explores a… More
Based on the novel by Graham Swift - a wonderful British author - <i>Waterland</i> tells the story of a history teacher who tells his students as much about himself as he does history. What is strong about the novel is what is weak about the film. The novel explores a post-modern conception of history that suggests we get stuck in these endless spirals of ironic happenstance, and in order to understand it all, we must go back, and in order to understand what we see when we go back, we must go back farther and farther. There's a little bit of this in the film, but certainly not enough for the audience to understand Swift's point. Instead of a complex exploration of post-modern theory and history, we're left with a fairly basic film about a man dealing with the events of his childhood. And how does that story fair? Not badly. It has its moments of affecting drama, both in the present and the past, but it's devoid of any grand significance. Additionally, the ending is too intentionally vague. We're given to understand certain conclusions about these characters' futures, but we can't figure out how they get from the point A, when the credits roll, to the point B, which we are told will happen. What is more, the plot-line between Crick and Price ends in a disappointing cliche. Overall, I think I should like this film less than I do. In the end, I think the source material, Swift's book, is so good, and the performances by Irons, Cusack, and Warnock were good enough to make up for the failings of the screenwriter and director.

Cast

            Jeremy Irons as Tom Crick

            Ethan Hawke as Matthew Price

            Sinead Cusack as Mary Crick

            John Heard as Lewis Scott

            Cara Buono as Judy Dobson

            Grant Warnock as Young Tom

            Lena Headey as Young Mary

            David Morrissey as Dick Crick

            Callum Dixon as Freddie Parr

            Pete Postlethwaite as Henry Crick

            Stephanie Anderson as Pupil

            Tina Benko as Baby's mother

            Nicholas Boyce as Leroy

            Colin Bruce as Guest at Dinner Party

            Fernando Cassas as Pupil

            Scott Children as Guest at Dinner Party

            Christine Christie as Angie

            Joe Collis as Boy

            Eric Dumbaugh as Boy

            Alison Everns as Alison

            Susannah Fellows as Rebecca Scott

            Maggie Gyllenhaal as Maggie Ruth

            Paul Haigh as RAF Man 1

            Paul Hardy as Boy

            Kate Harper as Guest at Dinner Party

            Latoya Heard as Julie

            Camilla Hebditch as Shirley

            Alesh Hlozek as Guest at Dinner Party

            Jeff Hoffman as Other Pupil

            J. Michael Hunter as Other Pupil

            Monique Idelbird as Girl

            Sara Ittmann as Other Pupil

            Anne Kilpack as Other Pupil

            Kimberley Lakey as Scott Child

            Bradley Lavelle as Guest at Dinner Party

            Ross McCall as Terry

            Sean McGuire as Peter

            Jennifer Meyer as Sara

            Larry John Meyers as Senior Police Officer

            Miguel Montalvo as Stephen Bates

            Siri Neal as Helen Atkinson

            Kalvin Palmer as Marshall

            Vanessa Pfulger as Vanessa

            Stewart Richman as Ernest Atkinson

            Jana Sheldon as Guest at Dinner Party

            Nadia Siraj as Other Pupil

            Jolyon Stephenson as Joe

            Hasmin Stremikis as Girl

            Garner "Skip" Thomas as Publican

            Giles Thomas as RAF Man 2

            Ron Thomas as Barman

            Tony Vogel as Stan Booth

            Josh Wheaton as Other Pupil

            Tessa Wilkins as Scott Child

            Matyelok Gibbs as Martha Clay

            Sean MaGuire
            
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Waterland (1992)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Jim H

Cast

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