Upstream Battle
Dir Ben Kempas. 97 min. Real to Reel.
BY Adam Nayman
September 01, 2008 14:09
Clarion cinematography and a refreshingly even tone elevate this German documentary, about the battle over hydroelectric dams in California. Director Ben Kempas clearly lays out a series of cause-and-effect scenarios: the dams prevent the salmon from spawning and expose them to chemicals; the salmon population goes down; the various Native American communities who live off of the salmon suffer in myriad ways; their leaders try to persuade the corporations behind the dams to do something about it. It’s a disconcertingly familiar narrative, but Kempas’ reluctance to idealize (or vilify) his subjects or simplify the issues at hand propels the film past simple advocacy-doc territory.
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