By
Dollie Banner
When The Waterdance was released in 1991 I couldn’t
wait to see it. It had all the earmarks of a film I would enjoy; Eric Stoltz in
a leading dramatic role, a solid reception at the Sundance Film Festival and a
script by Neal Jimenez, who wrote perhaps the best alternative teen film of the
1980’s, River’s Edge. I had to wait until the video release, but The Waterdance
didn’t disappoint. I instantly fell in love with this poignant character study
of three patients coping with sudden wheelchair confinement. It’s always felt
like a secret film only I’ve seen, so I’m thrilled that this compelling gem is now
available from Sony Pictures Choice Collection.
Jimenez, who co-directed along with Michael Steinberg,
drew on his own experience as a paraplegic to craft this story of a writer who finds
himself in a physical rehab ward following a debilitating accident. It’s not
difficult to believe that the script evolved from real-life events because it
unfolds like a great play, each character so fully conceived and with scenes full
of humor, pain, hostility and resiliency. Stoltz perfectly internalizes the
frustration of writer Joel Garcia who wakes to find himself in a halo brace on
a gurney headed toward is temporary new home in a rehab center. While his ward mates
Bloss (William Forsythe) and Victor (Tony Genaro) bicker about what to watch on
the lone television, Joel turns to observing his new cast of roommates to pass
the hours between visits from his married girlfriend Anna (Helen Hunt). He
can’t help but be drawn to the two loudest, former biker and born agitator
Bloss and his primary target Raymond (Wesley Snipes), a charmingly forward
patient who may be prone to exaggerating his exploits outside the facility. The
three men rely on each other to navigate their new circumstances as they
reassert their masculinity in their compromised bodies.
One of the finest achievements of the film is that is
never sentimentalizes any aspect of the characters’ recoveries. Instead
Jimenez, Steinberg and the excellent cast treat their characters with a great
deal of empathy and celebrate even the ugly and uncomfortable part of human
nature. The Waterdance should stand amongst Stoltz’ signature roles in The Mask
and Some Kind of Wonderful as one of his finest performances. He displays a
similar quiet melancholy here, his clear blue eyes conveying all Joel’s dismay
and resignation. Stoltz is also gifted with a light comic touch and he finds
every note of humor in the script as Joel looks for any kind of distraction. Raymond
provides a rare vulnerable character for Snipes, a man who takes this setback
as an opportunity to become the man he intended to be. Usually the most easy
going and affable guy on the ward, the scene where his family visits is a
heartbreaker. Mostly known for playing ruthless heavies, William Forsythe’s
work here is phenomenal. He takes another tough guy and adds so many unexpected
layers that Bloss feels like someone you just met; a real person. The film also
provides Helen Hunt with the first in a number of great turns as a woman who
struggles to give solace to her leading man. Here she’s smart and sensual, and
showcases that innate maturity that has marked all of her work as an adult. William
Allen Young and the always wonderful Elizabeth Pena are also terrific as
caregivers, treating the patients with directness and dignity.
I’m fairly certain I’ve only seen The Waterdance in pan
and scan so it nice to have it here in its original widescreen format. While
there’s nothing markedly original about the cinematography, the directors,
along with D.P. Mark Plummer create an intimacy between the characters that
allows the audience to fully engage in the patients’ struggles. In the
tradition of classic Hollywood movies, every aspect of the film from the score
to the editing works to service the story creating an illuminative experience
for the viewer. This DVD’s only extra is a theatrical trailer, but the film
itself is the real treasure here and I hope more people are able to discover
it.
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