BLOG · Review: “River Dreams”

Written by Linda Krnáčová
Master Film and Photographic Studies at Leiden University

River Dreams (2026) is a documentary by Kazakh filmmaker Kristina Mikhailova. The film begins with a beautiful depiction of pristine nature; rivers and lakes, contrasting with depictions of fire and waste, both of which play a crucial role in the film. As Kristina travels along the stream of the river, she interviews people that live in the villages nearby with  one main question in mind: what kind of river would you be, if you were a river? A question, which, at first sight, seems harmless or maybe even too general, but which brings the girls being interviewed to tears, as they tell very personal and vulnerable stories, which explore themes of violence and abuse, but also empowerment and the resilience of these women. Thanks to this film, feminist activists, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, convicts, and young ordinary girls were given a voice and were able to talk about their dreams in front of the camera. We get to know them in depth, as we learn who they are as people, what they desire and what they most miss in their lives. River Dreams is a brave, aesthetic, and vulnerable film, which depicts women in the gentlest way possible. The narrative flows as naturally as a river, and before you realise it, the film floats you to its end.