A wonderfully well-observed and deeply compassionate film, Jeanie Finlay’s All Rivers Spill Their Stories to the Seais set against the backdrop of the deprived North-East coast of England, and shines the light on an unusual group of environmental activists, a deep-rooted fishing community fighting for survival and pleading for support from a Government that seems to lack any interest in their plight.
The rather lyrical title may seem slightly at odds with the gritty location and harsh circumstances of the film; when an unexplained environmental disaster leaves a fishing community in financial and emotional distress, they struggle to understand what has happened to their coastline. But there is something rather poetic about the film’s central figure, sturdy fisherman Stan Rennie who becomes an unlikely campaigner.
In September 2021, a tidemark of poisoned crabs and lobsters devastated a small North East fishing town in England. The locals on the beach struggled to take the creatures back to the sea, and the fleet of veteran fishermen saw their lives and livelihood changed forever.
As Stan comments: “You expect to catch all your life…and then you can’t.” In the months after the first crustacean ‘die-off’ the fishermen head off to sea but return with virtually nothing in their nets. “I’ve never seen anything like this happen before,” says Stan. “Devastation. Ecosystem wipe out. This was once one of the richest lobster grounds out, where I’ve fished for 48 years – we were getting 50, 60, 70 lobsters a day…but all of a sudden, they just disappeared.”
For many years the fishermen and their ancestors have seen heavy industry settle alongside the banks of the River Tees, and pump chemicals into the waters. But when heavy industry collapsed, the buildings started to be demolished in readiness for a heavily touted freeport.
In October 2021 work started on the South Bank Quay project to provide a deep-water facility – this was the same month that thousands of dead crabs and lobsters were washed up on the Tees estuary and beaches. Some people blamed the dredging of the Tees, but this was not supported by government enquiries or local politicians.
With Stan a reluctant leader, 60 fisherfolk along the 60 miles of affected coastline formed the North East Fishing Collective. Stan comments that eight went for a meeting with the local mayor with a list of facts, but says he never got back in touch. He adds that they were labelled activists because “we disagree what he says”.
Their worries are echoed by Sue Wilson, of Tara Seal Research, who keeps an eye on seal pups in the area, and when the campaigners finally get a chance to air their views at a parliamentary committee, government agencies report that algae blooms are to blame. Scientist Dr Gary Caldwell, Senior Lecturer at the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, states that he believes the toxic chemical pyridine has been leaked into the water due to the dredging, but this is not taken on board.
Director Finlay gently acts as a fly-on-the-wall in the pubs, on the boats and when the fishermen meet, clearly warmly accepted and often also having to act as a sounding board as they angrily complain about politics, Brexit and the fact that they see the North as being ignored or taken advantage of. Her compassion for them is evident, and also appropriate.
As Stan Rennie counts out the many pills he has to take for his various ailments, he bleakly (and amusingly) accepts the fact that he is transitioning from hardy fisherman to desktop warrior. But his heart is always with the community and belongs at sea. The film offers an enthralling exploration of pollution, power, and possible political betrayal, but it is also a lovely snapshot of a close community who are determined to keep on fighting for their historical livelihood.
UK, 2026, 90mins
Dir: Jeanie Finlay
Production: Glimmer Films, I Am Charlie
International sales: Glimmerama Ltd
Producers: Charlie Phillips, Jeanie Finlay
Cinematography: Jeanie Finlay, Adam Mendum
Editor: Nicole Halova
Music: Lomond Campbell
