Saw this at the Berlinale 2018. Not much happens in this movie, and time passes there slowly by definition. One cannot expect many surprising turns of events and dramatic developments in an environment where not much happens as a rule. Having less than a handful of protagonists does not help either. Yet, I had little inclination to consult my watch, and it was over before I knew it, so something did happen all the time and kept us awake despite the circumstances. The harsh landscapes and the scarce animals living there, can be seen as extra protagonists too, unobtrusively helping to create a moderately lively image nevertheless. Their daily household consists of hunting (snaring and fishing), struggling with the weather, and maintaining their minimalistic shelter with the only resources they have: wood, hides and stones.
After an hour running time, ailing Sedna dies and Nanook sets out to meet their daughter Aga, who left years ago. She works in a diamant mine at some location far away. A daunting journey ahead, so it seems, never sure how it will end given the unaccomodating nature and unfriendly weather conditions. What has happened between Aga and her parents in the past, is left unclear, on purpose I assume. It seems to be something bad (we get no details), or at least something frowned upon. Still everyone agrees that there is a time to forgive and forget. Despite the latter, Nanook considers this journey as an ultimate step towards consolidation after Sedna's death, in fact only to comply with her last wishes. How the consolidation proceeds (*** spoiler alert ***) after Nanook meets his daughter, is left open, which seems to be the best finale possible.
After an hour running time, ailing Sedna dies and Nanook sets out to meet their daughter Aga, who left years ago. She works in a diamant mine at some location far away. A daunting journey ahead, so it seems, never sure how it will end given the unaccomodating nature and unfriendly weather conditions. What has happened between Aga and her parents in the past, is left unclear, on purpose I assume. It seems to be something bad (we get no details), or at least something frowned upon. Still everyone agrees that there is a time to forgive and forget. Despite the latter, Nanook considers this journey as an ultimate step towards consolidation after Sedna's death, in fact only to comply with her last wishes. How the consolidation proceeds (*** spoiler alert ***) after Nanook meets his daughter, is left open, which seems to be the best finale possible.