Documentary on Columbia River Bar’s ‘Graveyard of the Pacific’ Debuts Aug. 4

Studio CarryOnHarry Desk

A new documentary on the Columbia River Bar, one of the most hazardous river entrances in the world, will begin streaming Aug. 4 on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV, according to a release from Portland-based Resonance Productions. The film, “Taming The Mouth,” is being released on Coast Guard Day.

The Columbia River Bar, where the river meets the Pacific Ocean, has long been known as the “Graveyard of the Pacific” for its shifting sandbars, strong currents and severe storms, per the release. The documentary covers the roughly 150-year effort to make the passage safer through construction and maintenance of the Columbia River jetty system, along with the continuing work of U.S. Coast Guard crews who respond to emergencies and conduct search-and-rescue operations there.

The release states the Columbia River system now supports an estimated $24 billion in annual commerce, linking the Pacific Northwest to global trade. The film draws on historic imagery and interviews with engineers, historians and maritime workers, according to the release.

“People often don’t realize how much is at stake at the mouth of the Columbia,” Bruce Jones, executive director of the Columbia River Maritime Museum, said in the release. “This film helps tell the story of how this dangerous stretch of water was transformed — and why that work still matters today.”

Filmmaker Brett Eichenberger of Resonance Productions said the documentary is meant to be about more than engineering. “It’s about resilience, sacrifice, innovation, and the people who have continually risen to the challenge of one of nature’s most powerful forces,” he said, per the release.

The project was supported by the Columbia River Maritime Museum along with regional partners including the Port of Vancouver USA, J.E. McAmis and Shaver Transportation, according to the release. Following its digital release, the film is scheduled to screen next month at the Wild Rivers Film Festival in Brookings, Oregon. The release says additional community screenings will be announced.

Studio CarryOnHarry Desk