Mary Bruno spent her childhood along one of the most polluted waterways in America. Decades later, she wrote An American River: From Paradise to Superfund (2012) and eventually teamed with filmmaker Scott Morris and river-guide Carl Alderson to kayak the river of her youth and tell its story with a unique blend of personal memoir, adventure, history and science. 2021, USA, 86 minutes
Discussion with filmmaker Scott Morris after the film.
American River follows the kayakers on a 4-day, 80 mile adventure, navigating the twists and turns of the Passaic River, from the river’s pristine source in a wildlife refuge, through Paterson’s great falls, past Mary’s hometown, and on to its end in Newark Bay. The river’s amazing history, geology and ecology are revealed as the kayakers navigate its challenges, travel through urban landscapes and head towards the industrial disaster that has poisoned the Passaic for the past 60 years. Along the way, they engage residents, historians and advocates in candid conversations that bring insight, urgency and a sense of wonder to the story. How did the Passaic become one of the most contaminated rivers in America? Can it be saved? The Passaic is an archetype for thousands of rivers across America facing similar reckonings.