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River of Grass

Play trailer 2:01 Poster for River of Grass Oct 2025 1h 23m Documentary Nature Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 16 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
RIVER OF GRASS is a present-day reimagining of Marjory Stoneman Douglas's groundbreaking book, "The Everglades: River of Grass," (1947), which transformed the public's understanding of the area from worthless swamps to an essential source of freshwater, enabling the ecosystem to endure, just barely, today. In the wake of a hurricane, Douglas visits filmmaker Sasha Wortzel in a dream and catalyzes a prismatic study of a wilderness that is home to a rich history and a site of resistance in the face of climate collapse. Seeking a way forward, Wortzel reads Douglas's book and embarks on a deep listening walk through the Everglades with Miccosukee educator Betty Osceola. The intertwined voices of the narrator, Betty, and Marjory transport the audience across the Everglades, past and present. Along the way, we meet a mother taking on the polluting sugar industry; a family of crab fishermen who have fished in the Everglades for six generations; a mother daughter team who venture out nightly to remove invasive snakes wreaking havoc on the ecosystem; and a two-spirit Miccosukee environmentalist and poet, among others. Interweaving Douglas's writing, personal narration, stunning present-day verité, and haunting archival footage, RIVER OF GRASS reveals how this country's origin story haunts and inextricably shapes contemporary American life, while asking how we might weather coming storms better together.

Critics Reviews

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Robert Daniels RogerEbert.com Wortzel’s film is a clarion call to protect Florida’s greatest resource. Mar 1, 2025 Full Review Dave Giannini InSession Film River of Grass is both a travelogue and a call to action. Especially given our current political climate (one in which our planet is taking a terrifying back seat), its message could not be more important. Rated: B+ Nov 3, 2025 Full Review Alan French Sunshine State Cineplex Sasha Wortzel contextualizes her [Marjory Stoneman Douglas’] brilliant writings on the region with the world as it exists today. This allows River of Grass to not only speak to the timeless nature of Douglas’ words, but also her continued relevance. Rated: 8/10 Oct 30, 2025 Full Review Marya E. Gates Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack) Wortzel weaves together Douglas’ writing, archival footage, present-day interviews with Miccosukee educator and activist Betty Osceola, and more to craft an poetic ode to her home and plea for conservation before it’s too late. Oct 29, 2025 Full Review Rubén Rosario MiamiArtZine River of Grass is a steel dandelion, a wistful look back that points the way forward. It jumps in with eyes wide open. Oct 27, 2025 Full Review Chris Cassingham In Review Online "The result is a document of sense as much as history, in which the viewer explores the breadth of environmental resilience across the Everglades today, as well as Wortzel’s own memories of a childhood spent amongst its splendor." Oct 24, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C Real footage in 1 hour and 23 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/17/25 Full Review Read all reviews
River of Grass

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Cast & Crew

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Sasha Wortzel

Director

Betty Osceola

Self

Sasha Wortzel

Writer

Danielle Varga

Producer

Sasha Wortzel

Producer

J. Bennett

Cinematographer
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River of Grass

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River of Grass

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Movie Info

Synopsis RIVER OF GRASS is a present-day reimagining of Marjory Stoneman Douglas's groundbreaking book, "The Everglades: River of Grass," (1947), which transformed the public's understanding of the area from worthless swamps to an essential source of freshwater, enabling the ecosystem to endure, just barely, today. In the wake of a hurricane, Douglas visits filmmaker Sasha Wortzel in a dream and catalyzes a prismatic study of a wilderness that is home to a rich history and a site of resistance in the face of climate collapse. Seeking a way forward, Wortzel reads Douglas's book and embarks on a deep listening walk through the Everglades with Miccosukee educator Betty Osceola. The intertwined voices of the narrator, Betty, and Marjory transport the audience across the Everglades, past and present. Along the way, we meet a mother taking on the polluting sugar industry; a family of crab fishermen who have fished in the Everglades for six generations; a mother daughter team who venture out nightly to remove invasive snakes wreaking havoc on the ecosystem; and a two-spirit Miccosukee environmentalist and poet, among others. Interweaving Douglas's writing, personal narration, stunning present-day verité, and haunting archival footage, RIVER OF GRASS reveals how this country's origin story haunts and inextricably shapes contemporary American life, while asking how we might weather coming storms better together.
Director
Sasha Wortzel
Producer
Danielle Varga, Sasha Wortzel
Screenwriter
Sasha Wortzel
Distributor
Fourth Act Film
Production Co
Walking Productions, Subtropic Films
Genre
Documentary, Nature
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 17, 2025, Limited
Runtime
1h 23m