A River Between Us is a thought-provoking documentary film that explores the contentious issue of water rights in the Pacific Northwest. The movie, which was released in 2014 and stars Jason Atkinson, takes a deep dive into the decades-long struggle between farmers, tribes, and environmentalists over the allocation of water from one of the region's most important rivers.
The film begins by introducing us to the Klamath River, which runs for over 250 miles from southern Oregon into northern California. The river has been home to indigenous communities for millennia, and has long been an important source of food and culture for these tribes. However, by the mid-twentieth century, the Klamath River had become the site of huge hydroelectric dams, which were built to provide power to a growing region. These dams restricted the river's flow, disrupted fish migration patterns, and caused a decline in the fish populations that the indigenous people relied upon.
As the film progresses, we learn about the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, a long-awaited compromise between farmers, tribes, and environmentalists that would have allowed for the dismantling of certain dams and the restoration of fish populations to the Klamath River. The film documents the political pushback that the agreement received from conservative lawmakers and pro-business lobbyists, and how ultimately the agreement would remain unsigned during the filming of the documentary.
The film moves between scenes showing the different sides of the Klamath River conflict, zooming out to show broader angles of the river and then focusing back in on interviews with the stakeholders. We meet a group of angry farmers who are upset about the potential loss of water rights that they've held for decades, as well as environmentalists who want to restore the river to its natural state. We also hear from members of the indigenous tribes who have been most impacted by the recent history of damming, and who want to see the restoration of their traditional fishing grounds.
As the cameras follow Atkinson, we see the emotional toll that the conflict has taken on him, and the pressure he feels to find a solution that satisfies all sides. One standout sequence of the movie shows Atkinson visiting the Trinity River, where he observes the community's efforts towards taking care of the environment by putting fish rescue centers in place. We also see him discussing the conflict with his family, realizing how it becomes personal due to the different perspectives of the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement.
Overall, The River Between Us is a thought-provoking and timely film that deals with important issues of environmentalism, indigenous rights, and political power. The movie captures the complexity of the conflict in vivid detail, and manages to strike a hopeful tone even as it recognizes the daunting obstacles standing in the way of a just resolution. The film is a must-watch for anyone interested in the intersection of water rights, social justice, and environmental activism.
A River Between Us is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes.
It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.
