The feature documentary, by director Sarah Gavron, follows the trial and tribulations of the Inuit community that calls the village of Niaqornat their home. A picturesque commune of 59 residents, struggling to survive on many levels, the story of Niaqornat is one of hope and eventually triumph through persistence.
Village at the End of the World is a journey through four seasons wherein the viewer is given a peek into the lives of the people that are surrounded by astounding beauty and yet are engulfed by their everyday problems of survival. The beauty of Greenland’s North Western region is striking from the very first frame. In fact the entire documentary is no less than a picture postcard. Yet, it is the sorrow of the people that lies behind this beauty that catches the eye. The monotonous lifestyle has made the young of the village frustrated and wanting to break out; the closing down of the local factory has left many without an income; the danger of losing their subsidiaries with the falling population is a threat too close to the heart of the elderly who have lived their entire life in the village. It is through these very challenges that the documentary captures the perspectives of the various people who inhabit the village.
Trailer: Village at the End of the World But, this is a story about hope. It is a reminder that nothing is achieved unless we are ready to fight for our dreams. Most importantly, it is a lesson in the long forgotten human nature of sharing. It is in-between the everyday problems faced by the village that we see a sense of kinship develop. We see people come together to save the village by restarting the factory as a co-operative and also by enhancing tourism in the region. We get a strong sense of community as a village that survives on hunting shares the catch between themselves and comes together to rejoice all achievements no matter how small or how important.
Village at the End of the World is a tale of survival. There is no doubt that the regional beauty is enticing and unparalleled, but the real splendour lies in watching the village and its inhabitants rise up from the ashes like a phoenix and re-claim their heritage and culture and fight to maintain their lifestyle the way it has been done for many-a-years.
Recommended Viewing
Village at the End of the World will be hitting the UK Cinemas on 10th May 2013.