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One Movie Punch


Apr 22, 2018

Today’s movie is “Nanook of the North” (1922), the first feature-length nature documentary ever produced, directed by Robert J. Flaherty. This silent film follows a year in the life of Nanook (Allakariallak), along with his wife (Nyla), their daughter (Cunayou), and their son (Allegoo), in Canada’s northern Quebec region on the eastern shore of Hudson Bay.

If you decide to watch this film, be prepared to speed-read. The version I saw includes a few paragraphs of stills that go by pretty fast, which explain that the film was attempted previously, but the reels were lost and Flaherty returned to reshoot the documentary. The result is a slightly contrived docudrama about Nanook, which acts as an interesting storytelling device to document the joys and challenges of their life.

The origins of this version of “Nanook of the North” is shot by Flaherty in a way that shows he knows exactly what he wants, which has its pros and cons. The film has confident framing, but it can also take away from that special magic of the initial attempt. It feels almost like a checklist of scenes, which is admittedly built into the silent movie structure.

Another drawback to the film is its contextual racism, perhaps a latent colonialism. Nanook attempting to understand the gramophone would feel cruel, if it didn’t feel so staged. I have no doubt Flaherty was sincere in his admiration for their culture, but this could also be seen as the first direct effort of cultural appropriation for our entertainment, as well. Also, this film shows multiple animal killings, all culturally appropriate, but it can be brutal if you aren’t ready for it.

“Nanook of the North” (1922) is a pioneering work, succeeding in documenting not just parts of the Inuit way of life, but also the contextual racism and cultural imperialism of the time. However, it also documents a way of life that lasted for thousands of years, at least until the warming climate shifts the entire Arctic environment. Documentary fans should see the film, but be prepared for its flaws.

Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

Metacritic: NR

One Movie Punch: 6.4/10

“Nanook of the North” (1922) is not rated and is currently streaming on YouTube.