Qivitoq (1956) Online

This is a really good film! Yes, it is a bit banal at times, but the general impression that I got, is that it stands the test of time. It has been fabulously restored for DVD in 2011. One of the really nice things about the film, is that Greenlandic people actually speak Greenlandic (and the Danes speak Danish). The DVD has got subtitles. It is a rare film since very few films has actually been made in Greenland, and it gives a fine view into the beliefs of people at the time of filming (1956). It also gives a good impression on how people lived in a small Greenlandic village at the time. Well acted by all. I will gladly recommend it for all.

The movie is wonderful and it managed to withstand time since it was made in 1956. The movie didn't only catch the harsh, cold and merciless nature of Greenland but also the wonderful side of it, if you haven't been in Greenland it's hard to understand what is so wonderful about it or when you don't know how the way the inhabitants are/were.

The way the Greenlanders are portrayed couldn't be more correct, for example before the time Greenlanders stopped being hunters and began to work instead, everybody didn't see any future in fishing and it's true in the old days when hunters were humiliated they became "Qivittoq" (correct Greenlandic spelling of "Qivitoq"). Roughly translated to English it would mean "mountain wanderer". Also the feeling of knowing everyone and having the kind of closeness that is present in the small villages in the movie couldn't have been more precise, it was like entering my hometown just smaller and more (lot more actually) primitive.

It must have been a nightmare shooting the film on the icecap since it's quite dangerous and I can't praise the people enough who made this movie, and even risk limb and life to make this movie. You also get to see a small lonely figure of a kayak between the mighty icebergs, and it must have been quite frightening since like many people say that ice is treacherous.

This movie is an unseen and overlooked masterpiece that was made and forgotten in time. I'm so happy I bought it on DVD since I wanted to see it since quite a long time ago. I also gotta say that this movie is relevant now as it was then since it carries some part of Greenland's history. For example when Denmark began to "modernize" Greenland and make it more "danish". Well they succeeded in modernizing Greenland but they did not succeed in making greenlanders "danish". The movie was mainly made because Denmark wanted to show they are good colonists by "raising" their "children". The danish being the parents and the greenlanders being the children.

Now you get it, this movie carries a small amount of Greenland's history and one of the biggest influences on Greenaland.

10/10

Greenland, with its rich culture(and this goes into both positives and negatives of it, when something like this often ignores one altogether), fascinating language and warm-hearted people. No prior knowledge of any of those are necessary to appreciate this - most of it can be inferred(the level of detail is immense, with almost nothing having to be explained to the audience, as this requires the plot take a break). Eva(Villaume, sweet, she doesn't put up with any crap) travels there to meet her fiancée, only to find that he's with someone else. She stays with Jens(Reichhardt, lonely and business-like), both of them hoping that the next boat home comes as soon as possible. At the same time, the relationship between the natives Pavia and Naja thrives. But maybe things will change...

The clever approach to this setting(which makes for amazing, scenic shots) is to weave it into a traditional Western story. A primitive society is quite different from a so-called civilized one, so this tells one plot from each, parallel to each other. Balling was an impeccable director even at this point - the characters are all credible, both genders are strong and the development is so invisibly organic. All of the acting is great, there isn't a poor performance to be found, regardless of age or ethnicity. Dialog, music, script, all of it rather well-done. The title translates to "peak wanderer", which is what a man who has suffered great shame may become... one who walks into the hostile nature, to certain death. This comes with subtitles in either of the spoken languages, although we Danes can follow it without any.

There is some disturbing and bloody content in this. The DVD comes with a 7 minute interview with the cameraman, 3 minute restoration examples and trailers for De Frigjorte, Det Store Flip and this. I recommend this to any fan of drama and/or romance, as well as anyone interested in the island. 8/10

Greenland is a beautiful setting, and considering the time it was made, it was also an interesting setting politically. The relationship between Greenland and Denmark was, to an extent, the relationship between and colonizer and the colonized. But, as seen in this movie, it was not a hostile relationship. This movie could have easily been one that made fun of Greenland, but the movie tries to be fair with the greenlanders. However, it's not always successful at this. It seems that the movie suggests that women and greenlanders are about equally irrational, and that the greenlanders are nice, but simple people. If the movie was made today, I'm sure the view would be a bit more nuanced. It was obviously not meant as any ill will from the movie makers, but rather as a product of its time.

The movie itself actually has an interesting love story, combined with a take on the qivitoq-stories from Greenland. Not only do we see a young man deciding on becoming a qivitoq, it can also be related to both the protagonists. The man has escaped from Danish society to be on his own, and the girl also attempts some kind of escape from society.

The highlight of the movie is the nature, though. It has some beautiful shots of Greenland, and actually some impressive stunts on the glaciers.