Philosophical Echoes // I Am The River, The River Is Me

Due to climate change, we are living in uncertain times. Should we eat meat or not? Should we raise our voices on the A12 highway? Plant more greenery? And even if we try to do everything right, does it actually make a difference? Fortunately, we don’t have to answer all these questions on our own; philosophers are already hard at work tackling them.

With the film program Philosophical Echoes, we’ll delve into climate-related issues through a philosophical lens in a three-part series, all hosted at the beautiful Natuurmuseum Brabant. Philosophy doesn’t always have to be full of complex terms or confined to academic circles. These ideas can also be found in films!

Each screening is introduced by a philosopher from Tilburg. These three thinkers will present the films and guide us toward new perspectives on climate change.

The first film evening will be introduced by philosopher Mabel Zwaan and will feature a screening of the documentary I Am The River, The River Is Me. The museum café opens at 7:30 PM, and the program starts at 8:00 PM.

Tickets can be purchased separately for each film, or you can get a pass for the entire trilogy. Buy your tickets here.

The Whanganui River in New Zealand is the first river in the world to be legally recognized as a legal person and as a living and indivisible being. In I Am The River, The River Is Me, Māori leader Net Tapa takes us, along with a group of friends and family, on a breathtaking canoe journey along this river. Together, this diverse group embraces the spirit of the river and seeks to discover what is needed to save the planet.

Tilburg-based philosopher Mabel Zwaan introduces the film this evening, explaining how our Western perspective on nature — characterized by use, extraction, and exploitation — came to dominate the world during colonialism. Indigenous peoples, such as those in New Zealand, had a completely different way of relating to nature: an approach rooted in songs, stories, myths, and personal relationships.

According to her, the documentary I Am The River, The River Is Me demonstrates that these ideas are not extinct and shows how a new way of engaging with nature can be effective in protecting and preserving it.

Philosophical Echoes is part of a special program called Post Pop Up. Three innovative voices are commissioned by Pop Up Cinema to curate a series of three unique film screenings at special locations, each based on current issues, themes, or specific target audiences. This is the first trilogy in the series, curated by Mabel Zwaan.