Nanook of the North

Nanook of the North (1922)

Directed by Robert J. Flaherty, Nanook of the North has been called "the first documentary" by Robert Gardner. It follows Nanook and his nuclear family as they hunt for walrus and seal, fish for salmon, and build igloos. The main critique on the film is that most of the scenes have been staged and do not accurately reflect the live and livelihoods of the Inuit at the times of the filming. It is a form of salvage ethnography. Nevertheless, there are some wonderful scenes that show the ingenuity of Inuit technology, for example, when the kayak arrives at the trading post and not one but four people and a small dog emerge from the kayak.