Remember that great film about saving the Una River in Bosnia: Una The One? When we say “saving,” we mean fighting back against dams and the destruction of natural habitats — ecosystems that matter little or not at all to the people who decide to harness water for electricity generation, or more to the point, to the companies that build the dams and the concrete vendors. Because when all is said and done, they’re usually the only ones walking away with obscene profits, while nature ends up the big loser.
The Komarnica is one of the Balkan rivers under threat — the region has plans to build 3,000 dams, putting just as many rivers at risk, at the expense of wildlife, plant life, and local communities. The Komarnica may not ring a bell, but the Piva probably does. They’re part of the same river network. In this documentary, you’ll discover exactly why protecting it matters.
Select subtitles on YouTube.
Here’s the translation:
What does it take to save a river?
Tucked beside Montenegro’s Durmitor National Park lies the Komarnica River, one of Europe’s last wild river canyons. It is an uncharted sanctuary, yet it faces an imminent threat: a planned hydropower dam that would drown this unique ecosystem, repeating the tragic history of the nearby Piva Valley.
Komarnica: The Wild That Remains follows a team of scientists and activists as they venture into depths few humans have ever seen. Driven by passion, deep love and respect for this place, this dedicated group is on a mission to document exactly what the world stands to lose. From hidden sinkholes to rare endemic species, their work serves as a shield for a place that cannot speak for itself.
But they aren’t doing it alone. What began as a local effort has grown into a global collective. The Save Komarnica initiative has harnessed voices from around the world, proving that a wild river is worth far more than a megawatt.
This film is more than a documentary; it is a tribute to a landscape at a critical crossroads and a call to action for everyone who believes that a wild river is worth more than a megawatt.
Will the Montenegrin government allow this river to die, or will we choose a future where the Blue Heart of Europe continues to beat?
Join the global collective to Save Komarnica:
SIGN THE PETITION: https://tinyurl.com/2cv7duk7
LEARN MORE: https://www.savekomarnica.com/
JOIN THE MOVEMENT: Follow us on Instagram/Facebook @savetheblueheartofeurope2538 @EuroNatur@WildReachProductions @savekomarnica @mes_cde and https://www.taxonexpeditions.com
SUBSCRIBE for more updates from the front lines of river conservation.
This documentary is part of the Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign, a coordinated effort to protect the wild Balkan rivers from the surge of over 3,000 planned hydropower projects.
CREDITS:
A @WildReachProductions Documentary
SUPPORTED BY: @EuroNatur
WRITTEN BY: Roman Willi, Matteo Clarke & Chloé Finch
DIRECTED, EDITED AND COLOR GRADED BY: Roman Willi
PRODUCED BY: Matteo Clarke & Roman Willi
ORIGINAL SCORE BY: Jack McKenzie
SOUND DESIGN AND RE-RECORDING MIX BY: Etienne Kompis
IN COLLABORATION WITH: Save Komarnica, Taxon Expeditions & Montenegrin Ecologist Society