River

Released Apr 21, 2023

1h 15m

Documentary

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List

88%

24 Reviews

Tomatometer

78%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

An exploration of the timeless relationship between human civilization and Earth's rivers. Spanning six continents, this visual and musical tour-de-force is by turns celebratory, cautionary, and ultimately hopeful that we are beginning to understand rivers in all their complexity and fragility. Narrated by Oscar Nominee Willem Dafoe. With music by the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Radiohead.

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James F

Some striking photography and a lot of ponderous scenes. An art film more than a documentary.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/23/23

Full Review

D. H

People absolutely have to watch this movie. Very enlightening. Kudos to Twitter for putting it on my radar.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/04/23

Full Review

Alysha S

You learn so much about rivers, including fascinating information. Also, some of the shots are stunning. A couple of shots of fish jumping out of rivers specifically come to mind. It's also tremendously effective at pointing out relationships between humans, civilizations, and rivers.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/23/23

Full Review

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Jennifer Peedom

Director

Joseph Nizeti

Director

Willem Dafoe

Narrator

Jennifer Peedom

Writer

Joseph Nizeti

Writer

Robert Macfarlane

Writer

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River: Trailer 1

2:28

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

River flows in the wake of other documentaries... intended to quietly terrify us.

Rated: 3.5/5

Apr 20, 2023

Full Review

Michael Hogan

Daily Telegraph (UK)

“Rivers run into the future and remember the past.” Oh hush, you frightful bore.

Rated: 1/5

Jul 25, 2022

Full Review

Ben Dowell

Times (UK)

You would be forgiven for feeling that this is a little pretentious at times, but there is also something hugely seductive about a transportive slow TV viewing experience...

Jul 25, 2022

Full Review

Michael Clark

Epoch Times

An actor with an instantly recognizable voice, Dafoe, recalling the late painter Bob Ross or a generic male NPR contributor, is not only saddled with spouting these silly bits of jumbled sophomoric drivel, he does so in a passionless monotone.

Rated: 2.5/5

Aug 12, 2023

Full Review

Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

The dazzling cinematography -- by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Ben Knight, Peter McBride and Renan Ozturk -- visits seemingly every corner of the world in seductive rhythmic progression.

Apr 21, 2023

Full Review

Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

Simple yet ambitious, this visually stirring documentary flows slowly but is worth soaking in.

Apr 21, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

An exploration of the timeless relationship between human civilization and Earth's rivers. Spanning six continents, this visual and musical tour-de-force is by turns celebratory, cautionary, and ultimately hopeful that we are beginning to understand rivers in all their complexity and fragility. Narrated by Oscar Nominee Willem Dafoe. With music by the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Radiohead.

Director: Jennifer Peedom, Joseph Nizeti
Producer: Anna Godas, David Gross, Oli Harbottle, Paul Wiegard
Screenwriter: Jennifer Peedom, Joseph Nizeti, Robert Macfarlane
Distributor: Greenwich Entertainment
Production Co: Stranger Than Fiction Films, Arrow Pictures, Arrow Media
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English (Australia)
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 21, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 30, 2023
Runtime: 1h 15m

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