All Rivers Spill Their Stories to the Sea

For more than 50 years, fisherman Stan Rennie has made his living from the waters off Teesside in northeast England. A passionate supporter of Brexit, Stan believed a new port infrastructure project would deliver the jobs and prosperity his community deserved. But when a mysterious tide of dead sea life appears overnight and the fish begin to disappear, Stan must confront some uncomfortable truths. Jeanie Finlay’s intimate and deeply empathetic documentary captures his growing disillusionment as the port project he once championed transforms his livelihood, convictions, and political outlook. Rallying fellow fishermen and neighbors, Stan and his community set out to understand what is happening to their waters. Their search raises larger questions about progress, responsibility, and what—and who—we are willing to sacrifice in its name. As the river keeps flowing toward the sea, the lives along this coastline are forced to change course. —Mariana Finelli