8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't have fly-fish to love this documentary..., November 15, 2007
This review is from: Trout Grass (DVD)
Trout Grass is a delightful documentary that follows the making of "split-cane" fly-fishing rods from the lush bamboo forests of China to the delicate craftsmanship of the rod makers in Montana and eventually into the hands of fly-fishers. The film is both visually stunning and quite entertaining. The scenes, alone, in China with the vast acres of bamboo forest are breath-taking.
Told in a linear fashion, the story is told through a whole host of characters - the Chinese women who collect the "cane," the American importer who must sort through thousands of samples, the craftsman who constructs the rod to the eventual fly-fishermen who swear by the final product. Of note, there is an excellent scene in the bamboo forest with a fly-fishing expert who we learn is the son of the legendary Hoagy Carmicheal. It is through him you learn that out of 1200 species, this very specific Tonkin bamboo cane is the "only one you can successfully make a rod with." And once I discovered that bamboo is actually designated a "grass," the film's title became quite clever.
This documentary is a quick 45 minutes, perhaps too quick. I found myself fascinated with the meticulous detail that goes into creating and fashioning these fly rods, and ultimately amazed at the level of complexity required. All from a natural material I see everywhere but knew little about.
Turning what may seem like an ordinary item into some rather extraordinary, Trout Fish tells the story of making of a "split-cane" fly rod and ultimately, the love for fly-fishing. As the narrator notes, it isn't just about a fishing pole, to him it is actually a "magic piece of grass" in his hand.
I not only highly recommend this film to avid fly-fishers, but also to anyone who enjoys a well written and beautifully shot documentary.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
just beautiful, November 2, 2007
This review is from: Trout Grass (DVD)
not being a fly fisherwoman i wasn't sure how i'd like this film, but that didn't matter. it was magnificent and fascinating. i had no idea the amount of detail and work that went in to create a fly fishing rod. the scenes were beautifully filmed. it really was a visual treat. i loved it!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Watch and Dream, August 15, 2008
This review is from: Trout Grass (DVD)
Although I had been a keen fly fisherman for some time I had never owned a cane rod. After watching Trout Grass I have a totally different view of the cane rod and it,s makers and exponents. This has to be one of the best put together doco that I have ever had the pleasure to have watched.(over and over) Even if you are not a fly fishing fan you would still get a great deal of enjoyment from this movie. Be warned, if you are a fly fisher you "will" want a cane rod after watching Trout Grass.
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