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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Wednesday 10 things to know for Tuesday Ashland police officer named top DUII patrol officer in the state 'Pure greed' led to deadly Carson helicopter crash, feds say Doctor under investigation for unsafe practices Education Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Environment Ashland Fire & Rescue Alarm Box: There are good fires and there are bad fires Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. 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James Shareable Sports Latest Stories AHS girls edge Roseburg Westbrook burns Blazers Raiders remain No. 1 in spring poll Fantasy Sports: Injuries piling up to start season Ashland High School cycling squad ready to roll, with help from South State Cycling nonprofit group High school AHS girls edge Roseburg Raiders remain No. 1 in spring poll Grizzlies blow away Eagles Hits just keep on coming Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls Southern Oregon University Raiders remain No. 1 in spring poll Grizzlies blow away Eagles Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls SOU women's hoops coach Kennedy leaves to take Portland State job SOU-OIT softball games moved to Wednesday Voices Latest Stories Our View: New cat on the block in Ashland Mochas, midrash and mysteries: Meeting G-d in the middle Our View: Ashland High benefits as cycle racing club gets rolling Council Corner: Ashland deserves respect, not a just a rest stop Letters to the Editor, April 14 Editorial Our View: New cat on the block in Ashland Our View: Ashland High benefits as cycle racing club gets rolling Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Our View: Council should stop stalling on welcome center Our View: AIFF does Ashland proud Letters Letters to the Editor, April 14 Letters to the Editor, April 13 Letters to the Editor, April 11 Letters to the Editor, April 8 Letters to the Editor, April 7 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Columns Mochas, midrash and mysteries: Meeting G-d in the middle Council Corner: Ashland deserves respect, not a just a rest stop Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Chris Honoré: The penalty phase of the bombing trial Herb Rothschild Jr.: How we get along Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Rabbi David Zaslow teaches poetry Community blog: Submit a poem Best Bets, April 9-16 Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Community blog: Get a poem a day Theater Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket availability in Ashland theaters, April 7 Ticket Availability Music The Farr Side: Is Kelly Clarkson’s weight truly news?  Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival The Farr Side: No Zayn Malik? One Direction stays the course A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Ben Steelman: Big-screen showings to mark anniversary of ‘Sound of Music’ 'Western,' 'Imperial Dreams' win top film jury awards A scoop from the ocean: Reviews of four festival films What was your favorite film? Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' Food and Drink Business profile: Couple opens second Pita Pit in Ashland Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Tom Grady: Finding the right animal companion in your twilight years High on flavor, low on calories: Cookbook offers tasty options for people trying to eat healthier Page H. 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ASHLAND INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling story of 'the largest environmental restoration project in American history' Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 12, 2015 at 3:36 PM Updated Apr 12, 2015 at 3:37 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 12, 2015 at 3:36 PM Updated Apr 12, 2015 at 3:37 PM » RELATED CONTENT • What was your favorite film? • A scoop from the ocean: Reviews of four festival films • Ashland Independent Film Festival report: Documentary about building Russell Brand... • Our View: AIFF does Ashland proud • More films, excitement than ever for AIFF • Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup... • Ranchers and Indians sign agreement to share water » Social News Among the amazing movies shown over this long weekend of the five-day Ashland Independent Film Festival, “A River Between Us,” premiering Saturday to a sold-out house at the Ashland Street Cinema, pioneers new ground with a tale of the long-polluted and dammed Klamath River, gradually healing, not with bills and policies, but through the mending of hearts among farmers, fishers and indigenous peoples. This locally-produced gem portrays the long journey from polarized, politicized, hate-filled swamps to a community of people with common interests who have started to hear, respect and even care about each other as human beings — all of whom have the right to survive and thrive.  You might not think a movie about water rights would move audiences to tears, but that’s exactly what happened, as former state Sen. Jason Atkinson of Central Point, a Republican, artfully and heartfully co-produced and narrated a tale of triumph for the human spirit.  He calls it “the largest environmental restoration project in American history” and he clearly intends the film to energize that goal, as well as to dissipate ages-old animus between all the players on the Klamath, as he details the transformation into a range of diverse people who are finally starting to hear each other and support win-win outcomes for all.  It’s not all rosy, to be sure. The four dams on the Klamath still stand, though they are expected to come down in maybe five to eight years, says Atkinson. In the meantime, pro-dam signs — “fight the dam scam” — also stand.  PacificCorp, owner of the dams, still needs assurance of protection from liability before they take out the dams. Farmers of the vast upper Klamath need a “floor” on water, that is, a guarantee they will get an assured minimum of water for what they grow, so they can adjust their prices and practices and have a living for this and future generations, said co-producer and co-writer Jeff Martin.  Klamath, Yurok and Hoopa tribes must have the dams (which produce no power) removed, and the stagnant water behind the dams freed, so salmon can swim and breed freely and uphold the tribe’s need for food and ages-old lifeways.  The film does the immense service of putting the viewer in the shoes of all parties — and showing how (finally) people on all sides can hear and respect each other’s life-sustaining needs — so they “get,” as they did, that there is no solution to this long conflict, unless all parties agree to a common good.  Finally, according to the film, the resolution of this complex conflict is not up to Congress or the Bureau of This ‘n' That, but it’s up to the people. When the people involved join in community, the government will follow — and that’s what this film beautifully shows.  Avid fly-fisher Atkinson, whose family has had a cabin on the Klamath for five generations, says the film (and the initiatives in it) “show us a new way forward to solve a natural resources conflict. They show us the best in America, solving the most complicated conflict in a hundred-year water war.”  In our present polarized political climate, we expect a documentary film, to show soundbites of bitter resentments — and there are some — but, said Atkinson, in a post-premiere interview — what made the emotional dam break was a state of “complete desperation” among the parties. “It’s the only reason I narrated it, because it was so personal. The dams are only a metaphor of what was happening,” he says. “In the end, it will make everyone happy, except the extremes of the left and right.”  The film alludes frequently to the partisan gridlock of Congress, blocking movement on key elements to settlement of the Klamath Water Wars. Asked if the necessary steps could be achieved by executive order of the President, Atkinson said, “Yes, and that’s why I made the movie.”  Perhaps the most telling moments of the film come as leaders of tribes and water users organizations talk of how their children are on the same soccer teams and it slowly dawns on them that, hey, we are in this same community and it’s going to be this way forever.  We see Becky Hatfield Hyde (cousin of the U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield) of the Yamsi Ranch of the Upper Klamath retelling how she and her family, who have “held” the land for generations, realize, that, not too long ago, the tribes held it and “something was wrong” and it had to be fixed, so the family started talking to the native peoples about working out a solution that works for everyone.  She was moved to tears and so are we. This was an audience caught unawares by the power of this movie. This is the future of conflict resolution. There is this boat and we are all in it.  In the film, farmers and Indians find themselves at the same potato festival in Klamath Falls, with Indians — never before invited to such an event — roasting salmon on an open fire and gifting it to farmers. Then-Gov. John Kitzhaber, long a participant in the drought-driven conflicts of the basin a decade ago, is shown humbled in gratitude for the new sense of community unfolding on its own, with no inspiration from political leaders. As he finishes his speech, he wipes tears from his eye.  And so does everyone else. Tickets to the final showing of the movie at the AIFF at 12:40 p.m. Monday, April 13, at the Varsity Theatre sold out. Seats will only be available through the rush line if any ticket holders don't show. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 12, 2015 at 3:36 PM Updated Apr 12, 2015 at 3:37 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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