Let’s get the bad news out of the way. Feature documentary River is out on 37 screens for its first week, made $39,000 over the weekend and has taken $69,000 including previews. I am hearing stories of almost empty cinemas – indeed, I saw it with a friend and we were alone in the dark.
We were also thrilled to bits as Jen Peedom’s lush visuals worked magic with the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s music. Peter Bradshaw, the Guardian critic we often use as a reliable source of opinion, was snitty over the narration, but he is wrong in this case.