One of the most interesting studies of a subversive documentary film in my opinion is “Nanook of the North.” Shot in the early 1920’s by explorer Robert Flaherty it was heralded as the start of the documentary cinema craze when it came out as it brought forth something film has never been used to do before; to capture and explore an alien world that many had never even dreamed of. The story follows Nanook, a leader in the inuit tribe as he shows his families way of life to Robert Flaherty. They hunt seals, foxes, bears, they build Igloo’s, play with dogs and trade their wears at far out trading posts. But what this film illuminates more then that is a loving family which against what I would consider the insurmountable odds of the arctic, find love and grow as a family. Though I don’t doubt the love that these people show one another. Most of the rest of this film is a lie. Nanook as we come to know him does not even exist. His real name is Allakariallak, and though an inuit man, in this film he was more of Flaherty’s co-director then his star. The two of them would come up with shots, scenes and takes, repeating takes when necessary in order to create the most dramatic tension. Two of the most famous forged scenes that in my opinion are when Nanook is in his Igloo waking up in the morning, and when they arrive at the trading post. For the Igloo shots, Flaherty realized early on that the small ice skylights did not illuminate the igloo enough to capture it on film, so Nanook and his family built half Igloo’s and simulated their sleeping patterns in order to capture it on film. My other favorite forged scene is when they go to the trading camps. They had been going to these places for years and things such as a gramophone where not new to them. Yet they act like it is, placing records in their mouth and staring in amazement at the sound.
Why create such a “savage salvage ethnography” is my question. I guess personally I feel duped by this film. That it has the tenacity to call itself true and yet it is comprised of so many lies. Even worse its lies are what we want, to see and witness a culture that was untouched by the industrial revolution that is gives us a brief glimpse into our historic past. Furthermore how does this film, the original documentary, call into question the whole medium? I guess this films serves to remind us that seeing is believing is an outdated phrase in today’s cinema savvy world.
For all my humphing and Haing, I love this movie. I think its beautiful and elegant and though it may be comprised of lies the summation is a film which does illuminate a world well beyond the realm of my imaginings. I guess that is the power of film, documentary or otherwise, to expose the self to something more.