Nanook of the North

Image credit: Wikipedia

There are multiple points of debate and controversy within cinema, but one that definitely takes the cake has been the genre of the documentary, and by extension, the subgenre of the biopic. At this moment in time, the debates surrounding the genre and subgenre are louder than ever, as the cinema is currently being flooded with entertaining, yet arguably strongly fictionalised biopics: Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocket Man, and Tolkien.

The birth of the documentary and the idea of true stories being immortalised on screen truly began with the birth of cinema and the Lumiere brother’s footage of a train. However, canonically the title of the ‘father of the documentary’ and therefore, instigator of the whole reality vs. cinema doco-debate has been bestowed on Robert J. Flaherty and his stunning documentary feature, Nanook of the North.

The film follows a celebrated Inuit hunter, Nanook (the Bear), and his family as they travel across the stark and brutal Arctic landscapes in an ongoing search for food. Delightfully, the film chronicles their day-to-day activities, which range from the mundane (igloo building), to the funny (Nyla, Nanook’s wife, chewing his boots to soften them), to the dangerous (walrus hunting).

A series of simple and sequential vignettes that detail the life of Nanook and his family over the course of a few weeks, much of the film’s significance within cinematic history comes from its ability to divide its audiences in a great debate that has transcended generations, as well as its gorgeous blend of reality and art. Many contemporary audiences are critical of the movie because a large portion of it does seem to be staged cinema, as well as the knowledge that Flaherty –after losing all his original footage in 1916- based much of the film on what he could remember originally shooting, which resulted in crafted, rather than natural, scenes of Nanook doing activities he commonly did, some he hadn’t done in a while, and some that he never did at all.

Image credit: Entertainment

However, defenders of the film commend it on its brutally truthful depiction of a very harsh and unforgiving environment as well as an inspiring story of enduring human determination, resourcefulness, and strength. Indeed the final scene, which depicts Nanook and his family taking shelter from an insane snowstorm, is one of the most chilling (pardon the pun) moments in movie history. Sadly, this scene gained more potency after the film’s release when it was revealed that Nanook and his family had perished in a storm not long after completing the film.

Regardless of its divided audience as to whether everything in it is fact or fiction, Nanook of the North still stands as a touching and rather breathtaking film, both in its content and as an art form.

Director: Robert J. Flaherty

Cast: Nanook, Nyla, Cunayou, Allee,  and Allegoo