The River and the Limits of Working Class Solidarity
“The River”, a 1984 film directed by Mark Rydell and starring Sissy Spacek and Mel Gibson, is one of the more underrated political films of the 1980s. The story centers on Tom and Mae Garvey, Tennessee farmers who are barely holding onto their land during an economic crisis. As we begin, their farm is nearly destroyed by a flood and Tom is almost killed in the process. It doesn’t get any better from there. ...