this be a wonderful and character driven story of how the often crushing economics of life a a waterman can drive a family apart . there be so many nuance in the performance it hard to know where to start and but let just say the woman drive the action here and with a wonderful debut in tara gallagher a emma and the eleven year old narrator of the tale and and cherry jones a her mother julia and and sarah paulson a the emotionally damage merrill . these cast choice be excellent and and all bring an understated core to their performance that be perfectly draw out by director doug sadler work from his own screenplay . robert knott a julia down and out husband will tyler evoke a young robert duvall or ed harris and and be pitch perfect in his portrayal of a man try very hard against odds that be not break his way . if you be look for an antidote to the violence and mayhem that pass for movie make these day and you can take heart that in this fantastic film solid writing and acting and and the focused emotion of small town life in america and make for a terrific story and one that you should not miss .