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Nanook of the North 6 December 09
Section: article
Categories: Film / dvd
What a remarkable film this is.
I was reading about crtiticisms of the filmmaker, Robert Flaherty, for having staged scenes in the film. The film, in its total impact, plausibly and respectfully provides a powerful sense of the life of the Inuit at that time (early 1920s), which I am certain was a central intention of Flaherty. It laid the groundwork for the idea of documentary filmmaking. A more important inquiry (than criticizing this film) would be into how all documentary filmmaking reflects the subjectivity and outlooks of the filmmakers. The presence of the filmmakers already alters the scenes — whereas consciously staging some situations could serve to strengthen their authenticity, certainly in physical environments such as the arctic where the technical constraints were extreme.
- Title: Nanook of the North
- Directed by: Robert Flaherty
- Writing credits: Robert Flaherty
- Year: 11 June 1922
- Further details: 79 minutes
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