SATURDAY 14 October. Harstad Cinema

HORROR FILM FROM GREENLAND

Director: Malik Kleist. Greenland (2023). English subtitles. 119 minutes. PG 15

For the first time, Greenland is in the competition for the Nordic Council's film prize. Now you have the unique chance to watch the Greenlandic film that has been nominated.

Here is the reason the Nordic Council has given for nominating this film:

"With his unique ability to build on Inuit stories and mythology, the director in Alanngut Killinganni (The Edge of the Shadows) combines modern storytelling techniques with humor and horror from the oral Greenlandic storytelling tradition. One of the film's central elements is therefore its use of Greenlandic stories and mythology, which are woven into the story in a natural and authentic way.

The Greenlandic landscapes are also included as a central element in the film, where breathtaking views of the mountains and the sea form a fantastic backdrop for the action. The beautiful landscapes enhance a sense of fear and unease and add an extra dimension to the exciting action.

The film explores important themes related to grief, community and tradition. It is seen in the clash between civilisations, city and country, and the natural and the mystical as well as in the respect for nature and history. There are things out there that we don't know about. The film places itself elegantly in the more recent tradition of "arctic chills" from the high north."

ABOUT THE MOVIE:

Eight years have passed since six young people were attacked by a Qivittoq (a Greenlandic legendary figure). Tuuma is a tourist guide in Greenland and often sails with tourists in this arctic area. On a trip, the two Danish tourists want to go to the site of the attack and manage to persuade a reluctant Tuuma. His bad feeling unfortunately becomes a reality and the two tourists disappear. Tuuma quickly sails back to Nuuk to get help from the police, who at first do not take him seriously. But is it a good idea to go back and look for the tourists, when the Qivittoqs are in the mountains? In this film we are not exposed to monsters, vampires or zombies. The Edge of the Shadow explores a scary being from Inuit mythology, if you left society out of jealousy, anger or shame and went to the mountains to live alone you could become a qvittoq. Here, the mythology is staged in a classic low-budget horror film format.