(16 December 2005 2:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Hallmark US has announced that it will air its original movie The Water is Wide in January 2006. It is based on the autobiographical book by author Pat Conroy who wrote The Prince of Tides. The film version of that book was directed by Barbara Streisand and got seven Oscar nominations.

The Water is Wide stars Alfre Woodard The Practice, Desperate Housewives and Frank Langella Good Night, and Good Luck.

The drama, spanning 1969 to 1970, based on Conroy's memoir, recounts his experiences as a young, idealistic and unconventional teacher who strives to bring literacy, knowledge and self-respect to the predominantly poor black children living on a small isolated island off the coast of South Carolina.

Desperate to secure a job as his wedding day approaches Conroy convinces Dr. Henry Piedmont (Langella), the arrogant superintendent of schools, to offer him a teaching position on the remote Yamacraw Island. He accepts the position after obtaining the reluctant blessing of his bride-to-be, Barbara, (Julianne Nicholson).

Upon meeting the 12 students in his combined classroom for grades five through eight, Pat is shocked to find that most of them are illiterate, can barely add and can't even name their own country or its president.

Though the children embrace his kind, spirited and, at times, silly manner, and begin to thrive under his tutelage, Pat continues to face resistance from Piedmont. Instead of receiving praise, Pat learns that his job may be in jeopardy, and he has no intention of abandoning the students without a fight.