Documentary explores water wisdom of our ancestors
A powerful new film exploring humanity’s profound relationship with water launches today, Earth Day, 22 April 2024.
Produced by the team that brought the award-winning documentary, Brave Blue World to audiences globally, Our Blue World
reveals how human agency, ingenuity and community spirit can help rebalance the planet’s water systems.
“It’s incredible, they had it all figured out, we are just rediscovering the water wisdom of our ancestors.”
Actor Liam Neeson voices the narration for Our Blue World, and the stories are told from the perspective of people who have had transformational journeys around water. The movie also looks back to engineering marvels that sustained civilizations for thousands of years, and explores the many ways modern countries are managing water and what they can learn from their ancestors.
Speaking ahead of the film’s release, Neeson said, “It’s incredible, they had it all figured out, we are just rediscovering the water wisdom of our ancestors.”
Paul O’Callaghan, executive producer of Our Blue World explains, “Our Earth is in trouble, and water is the vehicle through which the effects of climate change will be felt. Extreme droughts, floods, fires, loss of biodiversity, pollution and global warming are on the increase.
“Our Blue World will show that through a small shift in consciousness and practice we can bring enormous positive change and rebalance and regenerate life on earth. The greatest challenge we face in solving the global water crisis is getting people to value water.”
Our Blue World, which is directed by celebrated Irish filmmaker, Ruán Magan, starts with the fundamental idea that - as humans - we already treasure water in many ways. O’Callaghan says the idea for Our Blue World came about while thinking of ways to connect people with the value of water at a very personal level.
“The film stretches out that canvas to include society, culture, mythology, and spirituality. By telling stories that are emotional, relatable, and universal, our goal is to guide viewers to feel a deep personal and cultural identification with water,” he says.
“Our ancestors lived in harmony with water. They knew that water always wins. Our Blue World will demonstrate how relearning the wisdom of our ancestors, and fusing it with modern science and technology, we can transform this world for the better.”
Filming began in the Andean mountains of Peru with the amunas – a system of ancient, pre-Incan water canals and retention technology. Built by the Wari people, the amunas are being rediscovered and restored today to help bring water into the megacity of Lima.
The story - connecting ancient wisdom and indigenous knowledge with the need for water today - is told by Don Gregorio Rios, a local community advocate and member of the Amunas Brigade. It centers around a colorful festival where people come together to dance, sing and bless and celebrate water, a precious resource in their community.
The journey continues around the world - to China, where ‘sponge cities’ are mitigating flooding, by transforming cities from grey to green and reimaging the urban landscape. Then to Burundi in East Africa, where hundreds of solar-powered pumps are bringing clean groundwater to over 2.5 million people.
Looking to the future, the filmmakers say, climate change will mainly be felt through extremes of water: too much and too little. The movie asks how we will adapt to a changing water environment, including innovation in products, appliances and techniques that make a resilient, low-carbon water future possible.
Following a premiere in New York City, Brave Blue World Studios will be running a series of premieres around the world, including at Oz Water in Melbourne, Australia; BlueTech Forum in Edinburgh, Scotland; EU Green Week in Brussels, Belgium; WEFTEC 2024 in New Orleans, USA, and Singapore International Water Week. To host a private screening of the film prior to global launch, via on-demand streaming, or learn more about our global education campaign please contact peter.barden@braveblue.world.
Production of Our Blue World has been led by the Brave Blue World Foundation and Brave Blue World Studios, with the support from partners the Water Environment Federation (WEF), Backus, brewer Cusqueña, Procter & Gamble, investment specialist Sciens Water, Grundfos and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Impact partners are the non-profit water.org, start-up accelerator ImagineH2O, beverage company AB InBev and Yokogawa.