Gurgle:Pulling Water

ABOUT THE FILM

The award winning "GURGLE: PULLING WATER" (Best Sports Feature Film, LA Documentary Film Festival; Winner - Crown Point International Film Festival) explores compelling stories about adventure, courage, teamwork, grace under pressure, and overcoming adversity as seen through the lens of the sport of rowing.

Tori Murden McClure, the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic and celebrated archaeologist/rower/historian John Hale, along with a host of other inspiring characters, share stories of adventure, inspiration, collaboration, danger and urban legend.

Tori Murden McClure rowing across the Atlantic

Oksana Masters, the most decorated paralympian in the world.

John Hale, archaeologist, rowing historian

WHY THIS FILM

In a time when trust and understanding of “the other” is precarious at best, and “me over we” is ascendent, a film re-examining and celebrating the power and beauty of trusting the other, teamwork, and courage is timely. Rowers or not, viewers will find these stories enlightening, entertaining and inspiring.

VIDEO VIEWER REVIEWS

Additional Viewer Comments About "Gurgle: Pulling Water"

"Gurgle: Pulling Water" is hopeful, inspirational and above all, a terrific love letter to the sport of rowing. The film does well to establish what makes the sport tick and the subtle nuances that propel the athletes to commit wholly to this sport."

"There is something in here for everyone; potential players will be inspired by the nuances of the competition depicted, while history buffs will have a fantastic time deciphering all the cool little details that make this sport unique."

"The narrative pacing, visuals and interviews ensure that rabid fans of the sport are as much entertained as those with only a passing interest in rowing. Richard Van Kleeck has made a fantastic love letter to the sport, one that soars above and beyond into the clouds."

"The willingness to pull for other people is really important. We all have that in our daily lives, whether we are rowers or not." Tori Murden McClure

"It gave me an outlet....having something like rowing where you can put your abilities into action in a visible and tangible way." Para-rower Jenny Smith

THE DIRECTOR - Richard Van Kleeck is an award winning producer/director with seventy-six hours of programming in the permanent collection at the Smithsonian Institute’s Museum of American History (the award winning Lonesome Pine Specials Music Series); directed over 100 live webcasts as Director of The Davie Distance Learning Initiative at Northwestern University including famed opera singer Renee Fleming, rock legend Todd Rundgren, and Pulitzer Prize winning composer John Corigliano. Films include "Fleeting Reality", “Tempest Rising”, “Convergence”, “The Veil”, and “Prokofiev On the Ohio: Cinderella’s Dream.” His story telling style has insightfully featured ballet, Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalists, break dancing, rowing, adventure, fantasy, and performance specializing in unique collaborations.

THE COMPOSER - Composer and Trumpeter Sean Schafer Hennessy is one of America's most gifted composer/instrumentalists. He is a protege of the renowned Wynton Marsalis. Sean is currently composing in Hollywood. As a trumpet soloist of deep essence, much of his current music for film contains beautiful heartfelt melodies, light jesting humor in comedy, riveting/anticipating suspense in his dramas, as well as both spirited and touching jazz in his jazz scores. His orchestrations are rich, powerful, and dramatic. Conducting and performing his own works, Sean touches his audience through his film music and performances with unique musicality and soul.

"Gurgle: Pulling Water" Cast & Scenes Gallery

Frenchy A. Johnson

Paralympic Star Oksana Masters

Recovery

Daybreak

Stephen Hawking, coxswain at Oxford

Peter Salerno, rowing at 88 years old

Student rower, 16 years old

"Pull until your last fiber"

Early morning training

Early national television broadcast

Ham Sandwich Legend

Albert Einstein

Pete Buttigieg, right, rowing stroke

"It's like nothing else. You get in a boat that is 62 feet long and two feet wide with eight rowers and a coxswain. Everyone is immediately interdependent."