Fishing with John

Episode 1

Jim Jarmusch

Wed, Nov 20, 199124 mins

This an educational, narrative style half hour program. A narrator discusses briefly the life of a fisherman's day, then the where, why, and how to fishing for shark 3 hours away from Montauk, NY. There are experienced fisherman on board helping them prepare to catch a shark. Jim seems truly disinterested as there is a voiceover of him saying, "Why am I here?" for 16 of the 24 minutes. John tries to be engaging throughout, especially while both were waiting for shark to bite. Finally, Jim relays how dolphins saved a woman's life who was in the ocean by poking her with their beaks so that she needed to be treated at a hospital. From this point on Jim and John tell stories and seem to be more engaged. FINALLY at the 18 minute mark, you hear one of the rod's lines being pulled upon. A giant blue shark has taken the bait on John's rod. There are below water, overhead, and along side views as John reels in this shark. The shark and John are both exhausted after a 30 minute battle, followed by a long period where the shark plays dead, giving time for John to change his rod in the hope to coax the shark to the boat. So as to NOT spoil the ending I'll only say that for animal lovers, the shark is unharmed.