Rating: 
Summary: A sure-to-please, captivating look at the Eskimo lifestyle
Review: Sometimes you think you've got a pretty good handle on world cultures; but Robert Flaherty's stunningly insightful docu-drama of the Eskimo lifestyle turns that handle inside out and upside down. If only high school cultural anthropology had been so fun and entertaining.Although some of the scenes are planned and come off as corny, for the most part, the film offers a real look at some of the hardships of Eskimo life. Watch for the igloo building chapter. This is flat out the most incredible, jaw-dropping "betcha-didn't-know how we do this" sequences I've ever witnessed.
Rating: 
Summary: best movie ever
Review: The small band of people have to struggle to survive. The threat of starvation is always present. The land is harsh. And yet there is much joy in this film. There are several children who laugh and play with the puppies and play sliding games on the snow. There's a chubby baby of 4 months old who travels in the hood of his mother's coat. There's Nanook's wife who is always smiling. And dogs who work hard to pull the sleds. The viewer sees the small troop hunt for walrus and seal. There is struggle and then there is joy as they eat pieces of the raw meat. We also see them construct an igloo within one hour, the whole family working together with their flat bone knives as their only tool. I understand that this film has been criticized because this scene was staged and that a special igloo had to be created in order to film the interior, but I can't see how else this could have been done. The viewer really identifies with the people and their daily struggle and I was saddened to learn that two years after the film was produced, Nanook died of starvation during a deer hunt. In spite of the limited amount of technology available to Flaherty, he did a spectacular job, and the film stands today as an important historical document. Absolutely one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Humanity in a harsh land
Review: The small band of people have to struggle to survive. The threat of starvation is always present. The land is harsh. And yet there is much joy in this film. There are several children who laugh and play with the puppies and play sliding games on the snow. There's a chubby baby of 4 months old who travels in the hood of his mother's coat. There's Nanook's wife who is always smiling. And dogs who work hard to pull the sleds. The viewer sees the small troop hunt for walrus and seal. There is struggle and then there is joy as they eat pieces of the raw meat. We also see them construct an igloo within one hour, the whole family working together with their flat bone knives as their only tool. I understand that this film has been criticized because this scene was staged and that a special igloo had to be created in order to film the interior, but I can't see how else this could have been done. The viewer really identifies with the people and their daily struggle and I was saddened to learn that two years after the film was produced, Nanook died of starvation during a deer hunt. In spite of the limited amount of technology available to Flaherty, he did a spectacular job, and the film stands today as an important historical document. Absolutely one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: a great film about Inuits (Eskimos)
Review: This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film. This film is credited with being one of the first documentary films. When first released it became known worldwide. Although the film was staged it is partially accurate. At the time of the film was being made, Inuit society was beginning to modernize and the film was made to portray traditional life for the Inuits. To this day the film remains one of the most famous documentaries ever made. The film is well photographed and is the first silent film the Criterion Collection has released on DVD. The new musical score is excellent and often appropriate for the particular scenes. This film is generally appropriate for all ages but near the end of the film there is a scene of brief female nudity. The Criterion Collection has resotred the film to its original frame rate and the special features include photographs of the region where the movie was filmed and also inclused a rare interview with the director's widow.
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