The Watershed Documentary Film
A pilgrimage on two wheels, inspiring a fresh curiosity about the places and landscapes we call home.
Rupert Barry approached us with an idea for a film, he wanted to document the pedalling pilgrimage he was planning, weaving back and forth along the borderland of England and Wales, guided only by the meandering route of his local river, The Monnow. His connection to this river grew from his daily ritual of walking his dog along the riverside, it was during these walks that he became curious to seek out its source. To help him gain a perspective on the landscape which feeds the Monnow, and in turn, allow him to gain an even deeper connection to the river and his home.
His idea was to seek out the hilltops and meadows, mountains and valleys, to observe the watershed of the River Monnow for himself. To see one of the many tributaries of the Monnow emerge from the soggy, peaty ground on the tops of the Black Mountains, tracking the river downwards on its ever onward journey, to the point it joins the beautiful River Wye, close to his home.
The challenge with this film was the unknown, the team had a list of locations along the route & a rough narrative they wished to capture. But when you are filming outdoors, especially in Wales, you really have to expect four seasons in one day, which can be challenging when you need to keep expensive camera & sound equipment safe and dry on your bike! Thankfully, the partnership with both Rab & Ortlieb, providing waterproof & windproof clothing and bikepacking bags for this film, meant they had confidence in staying safe and warm if the weather did take a turn (of course it did).
The sound design on this film was super important, we wanted to capture the audio present on the journey, whether that was the trickle of a stream, the whirring of a wheel in motion, the crunching sound of a gravel path, or ultimately in this case - the wind! Which was also experienced through the visual shaking of the camera during the worst parts of the storm.
The film is intercut with drone footage of the raw, defensive mountain ranges of the area, contrasted by the lush, rolling hills of the lowlands that weave their way between the peaks. The beautiful drone footage captured by Jim Cossey was a key element to the film, allowing us to show the deep rivets formed by the Monnow’s watershed on the mountaintops, carved out by the infamous Welsh rain. The journey of the water is much harsher and direct up there, compared to the meandering route the river takes on its journey along the valley floor.
With the final piece soundtracked by a series of songs from local folk musicians originating from the borderlands, an area with a rich folklore tradition, which weave through Rupert's storytelling, just as the Monnow moves through the landscape.
The journey comes to an end with Rupert back on his home patch, and cooling off with a well deserved dip in the river Monnow. Rupert wanted to feel more connected and more present during his trip, inspiring others to have their own local adventures, rather than always seeking it elsewhere. A journey like this gives you a chance to look at once familiar landscapes with fresh eyes and a reminder that you can have a real adventure within just 20 miles of your home.
