The Film
The history of the world has been settling on the Greenlandic ice sheet for millions of years. Massive glaciers constantly unearth long gone states of the planet.
The Kalaallit people have been inseparably connected to this „eternal ice“ for millennia.
In just a few short years, colonialism dramatically transitioned their culture to a modern life style. Today, as the foundation of their traditions is literally melting beneath their feet, a group of people is committed to conserving messages of this vanishing world.
Under the guidance of the Greenlandic elder Angaangaq Angakkorsuaq and with the aid of two photographers, people from all the social walks of Greenlandic life gather to illuminate glaciers and icebergs in star-lit nights.
Over a period of several years, director and cinematographer Yatri N. Niehaus accompanied the lighting project in Greenland.
There, the artists not only met the places, but also the people whose lives are affected by the melting of the ice today.
First-time filmmaker Yatri Niehaus’s non-traditional narrative creates an introspective cinematic experience with an ethereal score and captivating imagery.
The Kalaallit elders explain that by building a fire, others can behold their beauty while they behold the beauty of others.
This film sparks a true sense of connection by sharing the wisdom of the indigenous communities most impacted by the environmental devastation that marks our current world.
– Stephanie Owens, LA Film Festival Programmer