And at 20:00 we will be screening The Prize of the Pole by Staffan Julen. Tracing a personal voyage of discovery through the quagmires of history and the shifting waters of cultural and anthropological ideas, this hugely affecting documentary film presents an emotional journey through generations and continents. Making eloquent use of antique video and still images from the late 19th century, The Prize of the Pole charts the progress of the Innuit hunter Hivshu (also known as Robert E. Peary II) as he attempts to discover the truth of his American great-Grandfather’s life and work. Staffan Julén’s film intersperses Hivshu’s thoughtful narrative with the recounting of Greenlandic natives’ experiences with the American explorer. The more troubling aspects of the legendary scientist’s zeal and quest for fame are never glossed over, and the film goes a long way in addressing some of the misgivings and reckless mistreatment that the age saw far too much of. Central to this darker side of scientific study is the story of the youngest of the Innuit family that Peary I brought back with him to New York. The point of this activity was heralded as anthropological research, but to modern eyes it came out as little more than fairground exhibitionism and exploitation. Minik was the youngest of the family – only six when he was enlisted, or more accurately, abducted – and can be seen as a modern hero of tragic circumstances. Left to grow up without a home, the remarkably tough and resourceful boy experienced the full force of antiquated standards of cultural, scientific and political imperialism. The prize for Peary I was the North Pole – a mission he typically referred to in Victoraian fashion as the ‘discovery of the Pole’ – whereas the prize for Hivshu is an acceptance of who he truly is. A powerful and moving work recommended to all with a real sense of adventure, of both the outward and the inward variety. – Robert Monk, 2014 The explorers grandson, and the films narrator Hvishu R. E Peary II will be on hand to answer questions later. vimeo/9907207
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 08:06:30 +0000
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