The River and the Wall

The River and the Wall

By Ben Masters

  • Genre: Documentary
  • Release Date: 2019-05-03
  • Advisory Rating: NR
  • Runtime: 1h 49min
  • Director: Ben Masters
  • Production Company: Cedar Creek Productions
  • Production Country: Mexico, United States of America
  • iTunes Price: USD 9.99
  • iTunes Rent Price: USD 3.99
5.5/10
5.5
From 4 Ratings
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Description

Five friends embark on a 1, 200-mile mountain bike, horse, and canoe expedition down the Rio Grande to document the borderlands before construction of a wall and to explore how it would impact wildlife, immigration, public lands, border security, and landowners. Told through stunning cinematography, the film will take you on an adventure down the US-Mexico border to see the 1, 000 foot high canyons, vast mountains, vibrant cities, and lush forests in the path of Trump’s proposed border wall. During the three month journey, the team meets the team meets with Democrat Congressman Beto O’Rourke, Republican Congressman Will Hurd, Border Patrol agents, wildlife biologists, immigration experts, and landowners to better understand how a wall would work and where it would go. As the vast wilderness of the Big Bend gives way to the more populated Lower Rio Grande Valley, the team comes face-to-face with the human side of the immigration debate and enters uncharted emotional waters.

Trailer

Photos

Reviews

  • Expected...

    1
    By Sharpshooterdrew1
    not surprised over-ripe tomatoes gives it 100%. Absent are the People drowning to get across the rio grande and kids being raped/killed, as their parents are paid by the cartels to ‘rent’ them to enter the country. This kind of ignorance has to stop and the truth must be told. Obama deported millions and separated 100k families. There must be a solution to this but the dems have ZERO interest in solving, as they would lose their talking point.

  • Eyes wide open

    5
    By Redrider10
    As a former Texas resident I attended many sheep dog trials in far south Texas. Some very close to the border. This movie is beautiful, vast, startling and opened my eyes to the utter destruction of thousands of acres of protected wildlife & private farms that will have permanent devastating consequences. The proposed wall is not just a 20 foot wall it includes destroying all the land south of the wall. We was Americans need to look at what our country is doing, get involved and stop this act of biological violence before it is too late.

  • Amazing

    5
    By BigPoppa40
    Thank you all for sharing this journey. As someone who was born and raised in the border-town of Del Rio Texas, home to Lake Amistad, I greatly appreciate y’all for doing this. The Rio Grande is truly beautiful and I hope more people will see this movie and give insight to show how a wall will not create a definite solution, but will create more problems to both nations. Y’all are welcome to Del Rio anytime. Bless. -Aaron Polanco

  • Rawesome

    5
    By samanthamoonrise
    I saw the film during SXSW and it evoked much more emotion then I had anticipated. The scenery is breathtaking. The information, invaluable. Another landmark documentary by the inspiring Ben C Masters.

  • A must see for all

    5
    By WittRick
    There are many great documentaries about important topics. Very few, however, have the ability to bring such timely, pertinent issues together with real people and inspire a chance of hope. Ben Masters delivers a tour de force with a crew that all have their own real stories to contribute. All Americans - including politicians - should be required to watch this amazing film.

  • Thankful

    5
    By tayy_bird
    The Rio and the land surrounding it has captured my heart from the first time I set foot in Big Bend. Even when traveling to border cities like McAllen and Harlingen there is so much richness to the culture. As expressed in the film there are better options to approach border security than with a damaging wall. I am so thankful that awareness is shared through this film, so hopefully we can preserve the land, animals, culture, and people along the rio grande.

  • Amazing

    5
    By TioKleberg
    Absolutely a must see for the wildlife and Texas Rio Grande, magical beauty of West Texas This is a very complex issue that cannot be solved by a simple one size fits all solution. A wall has its place but not the entire stretch of the Rio Grands. Tio

  • Captivating. Riveting. Mesmerizing.

    5
    By Qua530
    This was beautifully made! Very moving, eye opening and thought-provoking. I love that shared the thoughts and opinions from Mexican family and businesses, American families and businesses as well as input from environmentalists and politicians. Valid points most don’t think of. Incredible cinematography. You won’t be disappointed.

  • Phenomenal

    5
    By Sitthetrot
    I also saw this film at SXSW and it was every bit as good as the trailer made it look. Such a necessary message in these awful times.

  • Captivating, beautiful, thought provoking masterpiece

    5
    By StacyEtoo
    Gorgeous vistas, stunning canyons, fabulous river scenes all set the stage for an adventurous and educational journey exploring the 1200 miles of Texas borderlands. A balanced perspective with some humor thrown in, this film looks for reason in our current hot and divisive political climate. While it doesn’t find an obvious immigration solution, it goes a long way to proving a physical barrier across the State is not a realistic answer. Majestically well done.

Comments

Movies by Ben Masters

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