Robb Moss built a body of work out of going back — most famously to a group of Colorado River guides he first filmed in the 1970s and returned to decades later. Metrograph pairs two of his films in one afternoon with Moss himself in the room afterward, which is a rare chance to hear a documentarian talk through his own footage. If you care about how nonfiction film handles time, nothing else in town is doing this.
What to expect
An afternoon double bill in one of Metrograph's two Ludlow Street screens, followed by Moss taking questions from the audience. His films are personal and unhurried — about river guides, aging and long friendship rather than issues. The crowd skews toward documentary makers and students, so the Q&A tends to get technical in a satisfying way.
Good to know
- Metrograph is on Ludlow Street below Canal — take the F to East Broadway or the B/D to Grand Street.
- Filmmaker Q&As here run long, so do not book anything tight afterward.
- The films are in English and need no subtitles.
- Film Forum is running Moss's The Bend in the River during the same stretch if you want a fuller picture of his work.
- Metrograph's second screen is small, so book ahead rather than walking up for a filmmaker appearance.
- The upstairs bar and Commissary stay open around screenings if you want to keep talking after.
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Common questions
Is Robb Moss actually attending?
Yes. Metrograph's calendar lists the program with a Q&A featuring the filmmaker in person.
What are the two films?
Metrograph programs the pair under the umbrella title Two by Robb Moss. His best-known work follows a group of Colorado River guides across decades, including The Same River Twice.
Do I need a documentary background to enjoy it?
No. They are character-driven and warm, closer to a long visit with old friends than to a formal essay film.
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