North

People in the Yukon, in the far northwest of Canada, live in a vast and breathtaking mountain landscape, where winters are cold and long, and summers short. A few decades ago, people from all over the world would come to earn money in this prosperous mining area. Now, most mines are closed down, and the landscape looks abandoned and violated. North tells the story of this Canadian territory in a poetic but nonetheless confronting way. At first we see mostly attractive panoramic views, slow tracking shots of ruined buildings, the traces left by mining activities, and old film footage. Later in the film, the focus shifts as aerial shots reveal the enormous environmental damage done to land and water. We hear the memories and stories of the former mine workers, and of the original and current inhabitants of the area. They tell of the craving for freedom and the fever for gold, and the consequences both can have. Together, they form the story of an intimate but ultimately destructive relationship between humans and the natural world. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)