Nanook of the North
Robert J. Flaherty
1922
SYNOPSIS
Robert J. Flaherty captures the harsh daily struggle of an Inuk hunter and his family living in the frozen Canadian Arctic. Through staged but realistic scenes, the film depicts the construction of an igloo, the hunting of walruses, and the sheer fight for survival against brutal elements. Often cited as the first feature-length documentary, it sparked ethical debates about authenticity while establishing non-fiction filmmaking as a compelling, dramatic art form.
CRITIQUE
Robert J. Flaherty effectively invented the documentary genre with this seminal work. By focusing on the dramatic struggle of one Inuk family against the elements, he gave non-fiction filmmaking a narrative soul. While criticized today for its staged sequences, it established the grammar of ethnography and proved reality could be as compelling as fiction. It captures a vanishing way of life with dignity and beauty. Nanook remains the foundational text for all documentary filmmakers, sparking eternal debates about truth and storytelling.