Dir. Sasha Wortzel; 2024
Sunbeams glimmer and bounce off overlapping waters as we are transported to the wetlands on the Southern tip of Florida. As Marjory Stoneman Douglas wrote in "The Everglades: River of Grass": “There are no other Everglades in the world. They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth.” Marjory came to filmmaker Sasha Wortzel in a dream and catalyzed this prismatic study of a wilderness, home to a rich history, fascinating wildlife and a site of resistance in the face of climate collapse. In a subtle yet exquisite way, the river becomes a character, a mellow-paced flow through sploshing, swooshing and vibrations, as we glide and take in its treasures. Wortzel has fiercely crafted a timeless scenery, where archival imagery coalesces with glimpses of the present, forming a collective voice calling from the water herself. (AT)