Screening & discussion of the film “La Rivière” at Ciné Dyke

In this documentary of great aesthetic and human interest, winner of the Prix Jean Vigo 2023, Dominique Marchais films the rivers of the Pyrenees, from the Gaves to the Adour. Along the way, he meets the men and women who live along the river: environmentalists, fishermen, naturalists, scientists, river maintenance workers, etc. Through the experiences of these men and women concerned with “the river” (a term that has become generic for the Gaves), the film shows their strong bond with the place where they live, a watershed. It also shows the evolution of this ecological environment, which is under serious threat from human activity. It warns of the ecological crisis, but is not without hope: men and women are trying in their own way to preserve, warn and fight so that the river continues to be an incredible source of life.

The director follows “a gentle path” to describe the transformation of landscapes and nature, the upheaval of the river’s water cycle and biodiversity, and to highlight those who are working to protect it.

This film is more than a documentary, it’s a celebration of beauty and life. But at the same time, it is an alarming reminder of the many and varied ways in which nature is being attacked. And in a universal way, through Béarn and the Basque country, we can imagine other rivers, including the Loire and its salmon…

Following the screening, the public will be able to react to the curious and loving way in which the director looks at the river, during a discussion in which the presidents of the Loire Amont SAGE (Schéma d’Aménagement et de Gestion des Eaux) and the Fédération Départementale de Pêche de la Haute Loire will take part, alongside ERN-SOS Loire Vivante.