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Rivers and Tides is Thomas Riedelsheimer’s meditative documentary about the famed British sculptor and land artist Andy Goldsworthy. The film beautifully captures Goldsworthy’s drive and dedication as he races against time to create his sculptures before they are eventually destroyed.

With nature as his medium and the earth as his canvas, Goldsworthy uses only natural or found objects to create his work. Riedelsheimer’s camerawork delicately captures Goldsworty’s bruised and calloused hands as they stack rocks in a pile, pin tiny twigs to leaves and carefully connect icicle pieces before the sun melts them away.

In one of the film’s great moments, Andy is making a rock pile sculpture when suddenly the rocks start to crumble. This happens four times, and our hearts break for him more each time as we see the frustration on his face. He calmly talks about gaining a better understanding of the rocks each time they fell.

While a few of his sculptures have managed to withstand the elements, a large number are gone within a day. Although the film never attempts to ask why Andy chooses to make these ephemeral works, I became so engaged in what he was doing that it didn’t matter. This film is a subtle work of art in itself with it’s quiet Asian-inspired soundtrack and sweeping but unintrusive cinematography. Riedelsheimer makes his own beautiful art without the attempt to upstage the subject.