Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway / 89 min / 2024
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The Whanganui is New Zealand’s longest river. In 2017, it gained another first, when the parliament gave it the status of a legal person with rights and responsibilities. Anyone who harms it, e.g. by polluting it, faces serious penalties. The local Māori iwi, who see the river as one of their ancestors, have been striving for this law to be passed for over 170 years.
The Whanganui is New Zealand’s longest river. In 2017, it gained another first, when the parliament gave it the status of a legal person with rights and responsibilities. Anyone who harms it, e.g. by polluting it, faces serious penalties. The local Māori iwi, who see the river as one of their ancestors, have been striving for this law to be passed for over 170 years.
This documentary also pays homage to the sacred waterway. Māori guide Ned Tapa takes us on a 5-day cruise on the almost 300 km long river. During a peaceful trip through the picturesque landscape, we learn about the local ecosystem and Māori culture, but we also delve into traumatic colonial history. The ethnographic film, whose director Petr Lom is of Czech origin, non-violently challenges us to treat the planet as we do our fellow human beings.
Directed By:
Petr Lom
Country of Origin:
Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway
Year:
2024
Duration:
89 min
Subtitles:
Czech, English
Accessibility:
English friendly
Topics:
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