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.
| Editing | Michael D. Ornstein | Editor |
| Writing | Pat Conroy | Novel |
| Writing | Jonathan Estrin | Screenplay |
| Art | William Cruse | Production Design |
| Camera | Kees Van Oostrum | Director of Photography |
| Sound | Jeff Beal | Music |
| Directing | John Kent Harrison | Director |
| Art | Alan Hook | Graphic Designer |
