Kiss the Water

Subtitled "A Love Story," Eric Steel's Kiss the Water serves up a portrait of an individual single-mindedly consumed with the zen beauty of excelling at a single craft. Scotswoman Megan Boyd taught herself the art of tying salmon fly-lures from a how-to manual. Dwelling alone in simplicity in the remote north of the U.K., she earned a worldwide reputation and the patronage of the Royal Family for the artistry and durability of her creations. Ironically, Boyd never fished in her life, and found the idea of killing a fish distasteful. Having tragically gone blind late in life, Boyd died in 2001 at the age of 86. Steel reconstructs Boyd's inner world impressionistically, drawing on anecdotes from friends and clients (although not her most famous customer, Prince Charles) while filling in gaps with glorious pictorial marine fantasy interludes using oil-on-glass animation (by Em Cooper). Only at the film's close do viewers even see Boyd herself in vintage footage (during her life, Boyd remained a tight-lipped enigma). This poetic documentary will likely hook fly-fishing enthusiasts, although it's ultimately more of an offbeat portrait of an inscrutable artist. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)