Pat Conroy, an ambitious, slightly rebellious idealistic teacher accepts Bennington county, SC's school board superintendent's offer to teach the all-black kids of the pauper fishery community on Yamacraw Island. Staffless 'head' mistress Brown incarnates stupidity and blind rule obedience, her didactic skills consisting in scolding and spanking her students. Pat moves heaven and earth to motivate and educate, but after finally getting trough to pupils and parents is refused contract renewal by the arch-conservative authorities.
Unfortunately the movie The Water Is Wide is not yet available on HBO Max.
| Directing | John Kent Harrison | Director |
| Writing | Pat Conroy | Novel |
| Writing | Jonathan Estrin | Screenplay |
| Camera | Kees Van Oostrum | Director of Photography |
| Editing | Michael D. Ornstein | Editor |
| Art | William Cruse | Production Design |
| Sound | Jeff Beal | Music |
| Art | Alan Hook | Graphic Designer |
