The story centers on an Inuit family and their daily struggles. Filmed in 1920 (released in 1922) on location in Inljuak, Canada, a remote part of Northern Quebec, with one really a big and cumbersome camera, that didn’t like extreme weather! Guess what- he was shooting in really extreme weather!
Some have criticize Flaherty for staging scenes, recruiting fellow Inuits to play some of the Nanook’s family, which all is true. How do we know this? We know cause Flaherty tells us! He is honest about his staging, in fact compare to the docu/reality stuff on TV and in films today, he was downright saintly. But even with the staging he was still filming with simplistic equipment, in really harsh conditions, and whether or not you go tell you main character to go hunt that Walrus, its still a huge freakin Walrus your hunting!
Nanook, the leader of the family and the main character in the story is a wonderful life affirming human being, and you care what happens to him, but I’m not sure that the making of the film isn’t as important as the film itself, it is truly an Amazing film experience.
If you ever get a chance go see “Nanook of the north” on a big screen. GO!
Watch a clip from Nanook of the North
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