For five years an intrepid team, brought together by Damyanti Biswas and Belinda McGrath Witzenhausen, have shared good news stories in the We Are The World Blogfest #WATWB. Here we are again!
The coronavirus pandemic has led so many of us to take stock in what, and who, really matters to us. Among some of the things, we have become more aware of how we are part of creation. We are connected to the created world: creatures, forests and mulgas, moutains and valleys, rivers and seas. There are people out there creating ways to assist this for us.
One of these people is documentary film maker Jennifer Peedom. She produced an epic called Mountain. Her latest is River as reported by Dee Jefferson at ABC News Australia.
But then there is the narration. Jefferson tells us:
Willem Dafoe was filming Spider-Man: No Way Home in Atlanta in 2021 when he used a day off to record narration for an independent Australian documentary, titled River.
River (co-produced by ABC) is a follow-up to 2017’s Mountain, which broke Australian box office records as the highest-grossing homegrown non-IMAX documentary — and was also narrated by Dafoe.
Like Mountain, it blends cinema essay with documentary, to tell the story of one of Earth’s formative features: how they shaped first the planet and then human civilisation — before humans learned how, in turn, to shape them.
You can view and hear the River trailer here.
It is another way of helping us gain perspective on our lives. We are beautiful and unique, yet small and fleeting, compared to a mountain or river. We are part of it all and those great natural places help grow in us a sense of awe, wonder and respect.
Here is a little poem to continue the flow….
FLUENT
I would love to live
Like a river flows,
Carried by the surprise
Of its own unfolding.
JOHN O’DONOHUE
From his book of poetry, CONAMARA BLUES
Ordering Info: https://johnodonohue.com/store
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One of the best things about WATWB is the people I’ve met over the course of five years. These connections will continue. Thanks for supporting this blogfest, Simon. I hope you have a great week.
Yes, Dan. From the Cherished to the WATWB, we’ve met some really good people. Thanks for being one of them and for all you do online.
Thanks Simon – this is a brilliant post for your last official # WATWB … but I hope you’ll continue in some way. I hadn’t heard (or taken notice of) Willem Dafoe before … one day I’ll get to see all the films I’ve come across – he’s made some wonderful ones … Mountain and River … being two … thanks for reminding us that we must remember to revere rivers and the life-blood they give us … without giving thought of their future … all the best to you, family and friends – cheers Hilary
Thanks Hilary. Yes, I’m willing to continue, even though there are long breaks between posts. I’ve hardly been here in the last two years. Hope you’re well.
Beautiful post. The River is now on my “must watch” list. Thanks so much for being a part of #WATWB, you were there from the beginning of this amazing journey. We couldn’t have done it without the wonderfully talented bloggers such as yourself who helped us add a little light to the world. A heartfelt THANK YOU for all you’ve done for #WATWB!😊
Thanks Belinda. I was there in the beginning. Were it not for Damyanti, I may not have met some wonderful people like you who have been at the heart and soul of WATWB.
Such a beautiful trailer Simon – have we forgotten to revere them was the last question posed and one that will stick with me. As will John O’Donahue’s poem ‘Fluent.’ Thank you for this post Simon and for being such a staunch supporter of #WATWB.
Ah, that we may remember, Susan. WATWB has been a great gift, of which you have been such a part. As for John O’Donohue, yes, he’s in and out of my life all the time.
Thank you so much Simon for sharing this and other positive stories, over the past five years. I am sure like me others found your pages uplifting and their lives a lot brighter after reading them. I look forward to finding any future articles to share on this page and give hope to others who find life stressful. Good luck with all your future endeavours.
Thanks so much Sylvia. Where would we be without the stories shared by Professor Owl? I hope this finds you well. I’m sure our paths will continue to cross.