This review of Milko Lazarov’s film Ága makes it sound pretty offensive. A film about an Inuit couple, where the man is named “Nanook,” is a “paean to a dying culture.” Sounds more like Edward “Vanishing Race” Curtis than Robert Flaherty…https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/aga-review-berlinale-2018-1202709567/ …
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That the main character is named Nanook, so it sounds like it could be a reimagining of Nanook of the North. But I agree it is very confusing. I just can't tell if the confusion is from the reviewer or the filmmaker or both.
It seems wise to withhold judgment until we see the film; the story could involve some sort of ironic appropriation of 'Nanook'. I suspect however that the mischaracterisation of the Sakha as 'Inuit' is just a reflection of the Variety author's ignorance. Pretty shocking.
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Ironic appropriation of indigenous culture to perpetuate tired 19th century tropes such as the "vanishing race" is also not OK at a time that indigenous people are at pains to point out that they and their cultures are still very much alive.
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But I would very much like to hear from someone who has actually seen the film, as it is unlikely I will get a chance to see it myself in Taiwan anytime soon...
End of conversation
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