Rivers and Life
Celebrating the ever-changing nature of man's relationship with the earth's amazing water systems, Rivers and Life reveals how the cultures and lives of millions of ordinary people are shaped by the magnificent waters they live along. Six of the world's most iconic watercourses are explored: the Amazon, the Nile, the Mississippi, the Ganges, the Yangtze, and the Rhine. Compelling stories about the lives lived along these river banks are told: from the indigenous communities who dwell in harmony with the rivers to the modern traders and artisans who make their livings there. And the vast metropolises, which now more than ever depend on twenty-first century technologies to keep the ancient waters at bay, are unveiled. Rich in texture and observation and filmed at some of the most remote and beautiful locations - from glacial springs and mystical sources to ferocious rapids and sprawling deltas - each episode is driven by a powerful narrative, derived from the nature of the river itself.
- 2009-2009
- 1 season
- Documentary
Celebrating the ever-changing nature of man's relationship with the earth's amazing water systems, Rivers and Life reveals how the cultures and lives of millions of ordinary people are shaped by the magnificent waters they live along. Six of the world's most iconic watercourses are explored: the Amazon, the Nile, the Mississippi, the Ganges, the Yangtze, and the Rhine. Compelling stories about the lives lived along these river banks are told: from the indigenous communities who dwell in harmony with the rivers to the modern traders and artisans who make their livings there. And the vast metropolises, which now more than ever depend on twenty-first century technologies to keep the ancient waters at bay, are unveiled. Rich in texture and observation and filmed at some of the most remote and beautiful locations - from glacial springs and mystical sources to ferocious rapids and sprawling deltas - each episode is driven by a powerful narrative, derived from the nature of the river itself.
Season 1 Episode Guide
6 Episodes 2009
Episode 1
The Yangtze River: China's Wild Lifeline
52 mins
Among the most utilized waterways in the world, the Yangtze River is also one of the most volatile. This program sheds light on humanity's battle to tame and profit from the river - specifically, a project initiated by Chiang Kai-shek in the 1930s. The program also studies corresponding ecological problems. Viewers are introduced to the Three Gorges Dam, a concrete mega-structure visible from space, which has created huge economic benefits but also displaced thousands from their homes and irrevocably altered silt flow, geological formations, and fish stock levels. Citizens who have relocated and adapted offer commentary, along with scientists and engineers familiar with China's New Great Wall.
Episode 2
The Amazon River: Pristine and Unprotected
52 mins
Stretching over 4,000 miles across South America, the Amazon River has long defied human efforts to tame it. Not a single bridge crosses it, and not one dam halts its flow. This program visits urban centers on the banks of the Amazon and examines new attempts to harness-or exploit-the river's energy and natural abundance. The journey begins at Iquitos - a Peruvian city blighted by poverty and inaccessible by road. Next is Manaus, a hub of tourism and industry in Brazil-and an effective springboard to discussions of controversial dam proposals. At the mouth of the Amazon, viewers find Belem, where the river is both agriculturally productive and highly vulnerable to development.
Episode 3
The Ganges River: Sacred and Sullied
Rising from a Himalayan ice cave and emptying into the bay of Bengal, the Ganges River is sacred to Hindus as a purifying spirit - yet it currently suffers from pollution and neglect. This program follows the Ganges through various Indian cities, studying their relationship with the river and assessing its uncertain future. Beginning in Gangotri, the program profiles a photographer who has documented disturbing changes on the surrounding ice fields. Next comes Haridwar, situated on fertile flood plains - the breadbasket of India - and then Kanpur, a megacity of four million blanketed by industrial smog. The final stop is Varanasi, the most revered city in the Hindu world.
Episode 4
The Mississippi River: Triumphant and Tragic
52 mins
Its name conjures images of America's mythical past, encoded in the stories and novels of Mark Twain. But today's Mississippi River is rife with challenges no 19th-century storyteller could have imagined. From issues of basic survival to triumphs of creativity and profit, this program follows the day-to-day lives of those who dwell on the Mississippi. Starting in the town of Cairo, Illinois - where America's north and south intermingle - the program moves on to Memphis, home of the once-glorious Stax Records and a mecca of blues, soul, and rock 'n' roll music. Moving through the Delta, viewers meet struggling shrimp fishermen, a Cajun community, survivors of the 1927 floods, and survivors of Katrina.
Episode 5
The Rhine: River of Unity and Diversity
52 mins
Rich in history, the Rhine feeds Europe's collective identity - as well as its divisions. Flowing from Switzerland through Austria, Germany, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, the river intersects a multitude of towns and cities in the process. This program follows the Rhine on its multifaceted journey and examines economic, political, environmental, and historical issues surrounding it. Viewers travel from Rotterdam, where vessels laden with goods leave Europe, to Hinterrhein, a Swiss town beneath the Rhinewaldhorn glacier. Along the way, the program examines invasive species, the threat of chemical spills, the horror of Kristallnacht, and the immigrant experience in Europe.
Episode 6
The Nile River: Shared or Monopolized?
52 mins
Were it not for the elemental forces of the Nile River, the great architecture of ancient Egypt and Ethiopia might never have been built. But in today's water-starved world, the river could lead both countries down a destructive path. This program examines lives and livelihoods that depend on the Nile, from the humble to the hugely ambitious. In Egypt, viewers encounter a struggling Cairo fishing family, a father-and-son farming team, and the nation's irrigation minister, who discusses diverting part of the river into a new valley. Moving to the source of the Nile, the program depicts Ethiopia's efforts to exploit the river - a series of hydroelectric projects that have created tension with Egypt.