Drinkable Meuse – A Long Walk for Drinkable Rivers
Retracing the steps of Li An’s 1000km walk along the Meuse (2018)
Philosopher and holistic scientist Li An Phoa is concerned about the health of our rivers. In this documentary, a shortened version of a three-part television series, director Thom Verheul and his son, cameraman Wouter Verheul, follow Li An on her 1000km walk along the Meuse river that runs from France through Belgium and The Netherlands to the North Sea. Along the way, Li An meets farmers, mayors, children and fishermen and discusses river pollution by pesticides, medicine residues and other hazardous substances. The film follows Li An on her journey, and documents her encounters, worries and we witness how she mobilises people for her vision: a Drinkable Meuse.
A movie from Thom Verheul, creative commons 2020 Stichting Drinkable Rivers
Screening the film
Part of mobilising people for drinkable rivers, the film is a tool to convene people and inspire local communities for action. If you wish to organise a screening as part of a meeting, a festival, or any other event you are welcome to ask for our film and organise an event with your community. Please contact the filmmaker to get access the film.
Releases
- Dutch release: March 2020 (shot in 2018 and 2019)
- Premier in France: June 2022, premier in English: Aug/Sep 2023 (there is also a German version)
Credits
- Producer and Director: Thom Verheul (NoorderBeeld Foundation)
- Scenario: Li An Phoa and Thom Verheul
- Camera: Wouter Verheul
- Editor: Jelle Redeker & Ismael Lötz
- Sound: Sybrand Bok
- Music: Truusje Melissen
- Cast: Li An Phoa
- Text: Maarten van der Schaaf, Li An Phoa, Thom Verheul
- Voice-over: Li An Phoa
- Television Partner: KRO-NCRV, The Netherlands.
Organise a Screening
Free 18 minutes long version
We premiered our 18 minutes version of the film online and along the Thames in September, from now this version is public and can be watched here.
Feature length version (90′)
Do you wish to organise a screening of the 90 minutes documentary film, please contact us.
Screenings
2025 24th March: Cultuurcentrum Strombeek in Grimbergen (Belgium)
2025 22nd March: L’imaginaire in Douchy-les-mînes (France)
2024 27th Mar: Regionaal Landschap Pajottenland & Zennevallei, link
2023 1st Sep: Transitie Lier in Vredeberg in Lier (Belgium)
2023 2nd Jun: Carte Postale in Geel (Belgium)
2023: De domijnen in Sittard during the ‘Mens en Maas’ exhibition
2023: The Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam during the ‘Pluriverse’ exhibition and Testing İstanbul’s Waters
2023: Transition Town Totnes Film Festival
2023: English Premier with Water Stories
2022: Festival International Nature Namur
2022: French premier during Meuse film tour
2021: Premier at Festival Film by the Sea
2020 & 2021: NPO2 Dutch national TV as three-part series
Our Blue World – A Water Odyssey
About the film (2024)
A groundbreaking documentary by the creators of the Netflix Documentary Brave Blue. ‘Our Blue World’ explores humanity’s profound relationship with water and reveal how human agency can help rebalance the planet’s water systems. By taking a deep dive into the lives of dynamic and visionary people around the world, one of them is Drinkabale Rivers founder Li An Phoa, this film sets out to reveal our profound relationship with water and its role as the nourishing life force for all that lives on this planet. It shows how by relearning the wisdom of our ancestors and fusing it with modern science and technology we can transform this world for the better.
“The film is mesmerizing, gorgeous, moving, and hypnotic. I especially adore the presence of Li An Phoa—a true water sprite.“ – Paul Hawken
A movie from the creators of the Netflix Documentary Brave Blue World.
Screenings
2025 22nd March: Filmtheater Fraterhuis, Zwolle
2025 21st March: Theater De Voorveghter, Hardenberg. Organised by Ruimte voor de Vecht
2025 19th Jan: Premier ‘Our Blue World’ Filmfestival Schiermonnikoog
Drinkable RiversTM CC 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License