Robert J Flaherty’s docu-drama, chronicling every (na)nook and cranny in the life of inuit man Nanook and his fam over the course of a winter, is considered the first documentary to become a worldwide smash.
We see Nanook build an igloo, visit a trader, go ice fishing, hunt a walrus and generally just survive the oh so harsh clime of the frozen Canadian arctic. Now of course, over the years we learn a lot of this was staged. Nanook’s actual name was Allakariallak, and his wives in the movie were actually married to Flaherty!
Still it is undeniably filmed on location and as such provides a pretty unique glimpse at a rarely documented area with such harsh conditions, as evidenced by those poor doggos caked in snow, presumably with Flaherty behind the camera eating a Snickers or something.
Like an early National Geographic magazine come to life. And like all good issues of National Geographic - it even has boobs!
Robert J Flaherty’s docu-drama, chronicling every (na)nook and cranny in the life of inuit man Nanook and his fam over the course of a winter, is considered the first documentary to become a worldwide smash.
We see Nanook build an igloo, visit a trader, go ice fishing, hunt a walrus and generally just survive the oh so harsh clime of the frozen Canadian arctic. Now of course, over the years we learn a lot of this was staged. Nanook’s actual name was Allakariallak, and his wives in the movie were actually married to Flaherty!
Still it is undeniably filmed on location and as such provides a pretty unique glimpse at a rarely documented area with such harsh conditions, as evidenced by those poor doggos caked in snow, presumably with Flaherty behind the camera eating a Snickers or something.
Like an early National Geographic magazine come to life. And like all good issues of National Geographic - it even has boobs!
