Rivers To The Sea

Filmed over a two-year period on several Canadian Atlantic rivers, Rivers to the Sea uses a seasonal approach to chart the many changes that occur in the abundant ecosystem of a river, as well as the myriad ways that man has discovered to alter and destroy that process. Beautiful underwater photography is the major highlight here, as we see beavers navigating through the spring ice floes, eels arriving from the Sargasso Sea, and the indomitable salmon making their runs for the upstream spawning grounds. The problems which have affected the rivers' ecosystems include overfishing, deforestation, pollution, and acid rain, resulting in everything from stunted growth of marine life to near extinction of various species. Although the film points out that humans have a hand in shaping the course of the river's life, the environmental advocacy position is downplayed here (especially in relation to most Bullfrog releases). Unfortunately, this leaves the film slightly schizophrenic: on the one hand, it's not detailed enough to provide a comprehensive look at the river's ecosystem and how it works; yet at the same time, it's not outspoken enough about the damage man has wrought on this particular segment of the environment. In the end, Rivers to the Sea is a very film to look at, but it's more like a video guide with a cautionary note than either a science or environmental program. Not a necessary purchase. (Available from: Bullfrog Films, Oley, PA 19547.)