River Spirits

The Purcell Wilderness Conservancy in British Columbia is the beautiful setting for this film about the interdependency of the mountain and valley ecosystems of the Columbia River Valley. Two kayakers, horses, a mule, and their guides, journey 60 miles through the mountains to the whitewater, passing through a diverse range of land: old growth forests, avalanche paths, glacial areas, etc. Intercut with their trek is the story of Yawo'nek the river monster, a Ktunaxa myth closely connected to the region. The footage is excellent -- a large variety of wildlife is shown, from the gigantic bear to the tiny pika. The abundance of nature shown emphasizes the kayakers as being the only humans for miles around, and the incredible responsibility this entails. The use of the Yawo'nek story (narrated in the Ktunaxa language and translated) and a Native American music soundtrack, is a creative acknowledgment of the indigenous culture. Although long kayaking montages confuse the stated purpose of the film as being a conservation biology tool (is it a river sports short? or a nature documentary?), and an occasional cut to video footage interrupts the steady flow of the film, River Spirits is recommended for larger collections. Aud: J, H, C, P. (E. Gieschen)