River of Spirits – Films – Visions du Réel

El Río de los Espíritus

Colectivo Tawna & Nase Lino
Ecuador, United States | 2026 | 61 min
World premiere
Languages : Spanish, Acoli
Subtitles : English, French

To stem the pollution flowing into the Kapawi River, the indigenous people would need to take the progressive step of switching to solar-powered canoes. The legend of the fish that inhabits the deep waters guides Luciano in his drive to convince them that this ecological transition is necessary, and to maintain peace between the villages that line the banks.

In the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon, the inhabitants along the banks of the Kapawi River have decided to take action to resist the pollution of the waters they fish and rely on for transportation. By replacing their old petrol engines with solar-powered systems, they embrace a form of modernity that allows them to preserve their nature-based way of life. Those who “do not separate humans and non-humans” can help safeguard the ecosystem that thrives beneath the waters. A representative of the Sharamentsa community, Luciano travels from village to village in Achuar territory to ensure consensus on these ecological issues and to keep the river as their main transportation route. In fact, a road is planned that would separate the villages and cut through the forest. On his walks, Luciano follows the GPS on his phone while staying attuned to the song of the Tiapatpia, the electric fish that rules the currents.

Raphaëlle Pireyre

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