Bad River

While 'Bad River' features an exploration of a natural waterway, it deviates from a conventional nature documentary. The focus is less on wildlife and more on the human experience of engaging with a heavily impacted urban river. It’s a personal odyssey that uses the river as a lens to examine environmental health, societal neglect, and the emotional impact of witnessing degradation.

Beau Miles’ personal journey through the Cooks River appears to be a catalyst for a shift in perspective, moving from seeking untouched wilderness to confronting environmental decline. The film suggests a desire to raise awareness about the health of urban waterways and perhaps inspire a reevaluation of our relationship with these often-overlooked natural spaces within our cities.

The film portrays the Cooks River as 'sick' due to its urbanisation, extensive hard surfacing, and drainification. The context also points to leaky sewerage systems contributing to its poor environmental health. This stark contrast between the river's condition and its location within the 'glamorous and famously pretty city of Sydney' forms a key part of the film's narrative and observational focus.

The film navigates a complex emotional terrain, moving from shock and sadness at the river's condition to a sense of hope. It’s a deeply personal exploration of environmental degradation and the human response to it. The journey is framed as a test of local perceptions, particularly the adage about dissolving if one falls into the water, suggesting a stark reality beneath a glamorous city facade.

'Bad River' chronicles Beau Miles' ambitious journey tracing the 23-kilometre length of the Cooks River in Sydney. This undertaking was inspired by a previous kayaking adventure and a growing fascination with degraded landscapes over pristine ones. The film explores the river's surprisingly ill health, reflecting its status as Australia's largest, heavily urbanised, and seemingly neglected waterway.