In the heart of France, the Loue River, once a fly-fishing paradise, is dying from pollution. While fishermen and activists desperately try to raise public awareness, the Franco-Swiss festival “Dance with the Loue,” with its Native American guests, attracts thousands of people to the small town of Ornans, where the Loue flows. Fawn, a dancer and lecturer from the Paiute tribe, proposes to lead a symbolic healing walk along the river to encourage the community to take action. The film presents different, sensitive perspectives on our relationship with water and the issues surrounding the quality of our rivers.
Duration : 70mn
Short versions 45mn, 52mn & webdoc in preparation
Versions : French with subtitles, English with subtitles
Vietnamese with subtitles (in progress)
The creation of the documentary “Parce que je suis la Rivière” (Because I Am the River) is the culmination of several years of work by director Sylvie Vàng Jacquemin and the Plumes et Regards association, inspired by the struggles of First Peoples for the environment and their rights to water.
Present at every edition of the “Danse avec la Loue” powwow festival organized by the 4-Winds association in Ornans (France-Comté) since 2008, they met and filmed traditional Native American dancers, invited to share their culture but also their struggles.
These visits to Ornans provided an opportunity to talk to fishermen and defenders of the Franc-Comtois rivers, who alerted them to the dramatic situation of the river that runs through Ornans: the Loue.
Fawn Galvan, or “Little Spotted Fawn,” a water-walker from the Paiute tribe who campaigns for water protection in the United States, was deeply moved by the state of the river.
By proposing a symbolic healing walk for the Loue, she wanted to raise awareness among the local population about the urgent need to preserve our most precious universal resource: water.
We felt it was essential to capture this story, as strong and lasting bonds were forged between the Native American water protectors and the Franche-Comté activists.
The film has been edited, but we need financial assistance to finalize it: calibrating the image and sound to the standards required for theatrical and television broadcast (in France and abroad).
You can help us by
taking part in our participative funding on Hello Asso
or
by a tax-deductible donation (for France only, starting at €100)
to our partner association
SAMU de l'environnement Bourgogne Franche-Comté
After earning a doctorate in pharmacy, Sylvie went to the United States to study film and computer imaging. For nine years, she directed and filmed commercials and institutional films there, then returned to France and developed documentaries in partnership with associations defending indigenous peoples and the environment.
Sylvie Demaine has been editing documentaries and short programs for French television for 30 years. She has worked on numerous successful television magazines such as Arte Reportage, Thalassa, Faut Pas Rêver, and Strip-tease. She has developed solid experience in the subtle art of editing to effectively advance the plot.
Images and Sounds : Sylvie V. Jacquemin
Additional images and sounds : Lise Delahaut, Olivier Aubry, Philippe Granados, Fabrice Périssel, Thomas Mansuy
Additional sounds : Eric Bonnefoux
Production : Association Plumes et Regards et Sylvie Jacquemin EI
Associated productions : Fortlee, Sheba Films, Qatsi TV
Are you a school, college, association, community place, or any other group of people concerned with river protection?
You can request a screening and discussion of the film here:
Screening and debate request
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - Tiers-Lieu du Biocoop Le Pissenlit - Charleville-Mézières (F) INFOS
Sunday, September 21, 2025 - from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Centre d'Animation et de Loisirs - Ornans (F) INFOS
November 2025 - date and time to be confirmed - Ciné Gédinne - rue de la croisette 11, 5575 Gédinne (B) INFOS
March 2026 - date and time to be confirmed - Walloon Water Days (B) INFOS
