A River Runs Through it follows the diverging paths of the two sons of a Presbyterian minister in rural Montana during the 1920s. The Rev. MacLean (Tom Skerritt) and his wife have tried to instill discipline in their boys. Norman (Craig Sheffer) has always excelled at schoolwork and leaves home to pursue his education and career in literature in Chicago. Paul (Brad Pitt) has never taken school seriously and prefers to stay close to home. He gets a job at a local newspaper and makes a name for himself as a reporter. However, he also makes a name for himself as a gambler and drinker. Norman, who stays away for six years, finds trouble when he returns home. The brothers lead conflicting lives, as told from Norman's point of view. The one area the brothers and their father can find peace with one another is fly fishing in the Blackfoot River.moreless