Trout Grass

This film tracks the evolution of a stick of bamboo from the bamboo forests of Southern China all the way through the hands of those who harvest, transport, and select the plant to a master builder of bamboo fly rods into the hands of the writers Tom McGuane and David James Duncan (!) on a river. It is a beautifully shot film both in China and Montana and it gives an inside look at a craft and passion that has been little changed in the last 100 years. Even if you are not a fly fisher, this is a great film as it delves into a place of magic for anyone who finds or feels something special in handcrafted tools. Even the China footage is special as it reveals a China that I've never seen before; incredible mountains and very friendly looking people who cut, slide, carry and cart huge amounts of bamboo poles down precarious mountainsides to an American bamboo importer who waits below to pick through literally thousands of poles to find just the right ones for builders of bamboo fly rods. A really fascinating film!

I've never fly fished, but this film taps into the power and lure of rivers so strongly that I can't wait to get out of doors and peer into the rolling waters, hoping to see a silvery trout speed by. Ed George's cinematography makes this documentary very easy on the eyes and the pace and tone of David James Duncan's narration provides a calming shelter from the obnoxious drivel that is so common in today's television and cinema. This film is artful and sophisticated on so many levels its a wonder how it ever got made.

Because of this one-of-a-kind story, I find myself day dreaming of a slow boat to China, where the misty hills and carpets of emerald bamboo beckon. Sweet Jesus, I'm hooked on Trout Grass.

You don't have to be an avid angler to enjoy this documentary about the magical process of hand-crafting fly rods. The China footage alone is enough to make one marvel. This brilliantly shot film captures rural Chinese culture only a few Westerners have seen. Add to that some amazing underwater cinematography and beautiful Rocky Mountain landscapes...Oh, and of course there's the captivating storyline--one that spans the globe to present viewers with the step-by-step process of melding a gigantic piece of Chinese grass into one of the most finely honed and responsive fly rods ever to be whipped over crystal clear Montana streams. You won't ignore the music, either. An interesting batch of trout-styled Bluegrass crossed with Chinese and Grungish twang will have you tapping along and later searching for the soundtrack on Amazon. Phew! Where did this film come from and why haven't you seen it?