Special Screening: "American River"
Published on April 14, 2025
In celebration of Earth Day, join us on Thursday, April 17th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm for a very special screening of "American River," a documentary about the history of the Passaic River. This presentation will include opening remarks and a Q&A by the director, Scott Morris.
About the movie:
Mary Bruno spent her childhood along one of the most neglected waterways in America – New Jersey’s Passaic River. Decades later, she returns to kayak the river of her youth and tell its story.
"American River" is a 86-minute documentary film that follows Ms. Bruno and guide Carl Alderson on a 4-day, 80-mile adventure down the Passaic, from its pristine source in a wildlife refuge to its toxic mouth in Newark Bay. The river’s extraordinary history, geology and ecology are revealed as the kayakers navigate challenges, travel through urban landscapes and head towards the industrial disaster that poisoned the Passaic for the past 60 years.
Along the way, the filmmakers 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.
Three years in the making, AMERICAN RIVER was directed by seasoned filmmaker Scott Morris and based on Mary Bruno’s 2012 book, An American River: From Paradise to Superfund. Like the book, the film is a unique blend of personal memoir, adventure, history and science. The entire journey was captured in grand and intimate scale from the water, land and air by an experienced crew with ten 4K cameras. An original score, high-end graphics and rare archival images enhance the story. To find out more, watch the trailer and explore this website.
No registration is required, however seating is limited and will be first-come, first-seated.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the library either by phone at either (973) 285-6933 or (973) 285-6934, or by email at amizera@co.morris.nj.us