Watch Down Down the Deep River

Down Down the Deep River is a 2014 independent coming-of-age film directed by Will Sheff, the frontman of the band Okkervil River. The film follows the journey of a young boy, Nat (played by Dustin Cournoyer), as he navigates the complexities of growing up in a small town in Texas during the 1980s. The film opens with Nat and his best friend Woody (played by Griffin Gamache) discovering an abandoned boat on the banks of the river near their town. Fascinated by the boat, the boys decide to fix it up and sail it down the river to the Gulf of Mexico. But as they work on the boat and prepare for their journey, Nat becomes increasingly preoccupied with the recent death of his sister and the impact it has had on his family and his own sense of identity.

As Nat struggles to come to terms with his grief, he begins to have vivid dreams about his sister and the moments they shared together. These dreams are interwoven with scenes from his daily life, including his interactions with his parents (played by Ben Abbatiello and Sarah Murphree), his crush on a local girl named Amber (played by Ashley Rae Spillers), and his attempts to reconcile with Woody after a falling out.

Throughout the film, Nat grapples with the duality of childhood innocence and the painful realities of growing up. He and Woody engage in typical boyhood antics like setting off fireworks and playing with BB guns, but they also confront serious issues like death, loss, and the fragility of life. At one point, Nat poignantly reflects on the way time seems to slow down during moments of joy and speed by during times of sadness.

With its stunning cinematography of the Texas landscape and evocative musical score, Down Down the Deep River captures the wistful nostalgia of childhood with a heartfelt sincerity. The film is a poignant examination of grief, memory, and the enduring power of human connection.

Down Down the Deep River is a 2017 drama with a runtime of 42 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1.