VIFF 2020: Anerca, Breath of Life
viff 2020Cinema has long been used to capture unique voices and document cultures previously unseen. Anerca, Breath of Life continues this tradition shining a light on the indigenous people of the Arctic Circle, allowing them to tell their history and share their traditions both through oral stories and visual dance. While the film is a technical marvel with a captivating aesthetic and visual style, the lack of a clear narrative alongside the chunkiness of the pacing leads to a movie that clearly would be better suited to be viewed casually in a setting such as a museum rather than in a cinema setting as a traditional film.
From the wide arrangement of gritty footage from the past century of filmmaking in these areas to the new footage capturing individuals from these communities showcasing their cultures, the best part of the film, easily, are the visuals within it. The gritty classic film aesthetic mixed with the well blocked modern footage gives the film a unique and strong identity that pulls the audience into its world and perfectly sets up the land that it is exploring. There is a clear passion behind the film from directors Markku Lehmuskallio and Johannes Lehmuskallio, who take the time to craft a film that would be respectful and true to the cultures they are showcasing, never making the film feel like an act of exploitation. This also is helped by the voices chosen to bring these cultures to life. From individuals telling the myths they grew up with to their personal experiences with their culture, the film is comprehensive allowing the subjects to showcase what is relevant to them.
This content is not only well built but also an important capturing of representation that will live on for decades to come; as a film, it feels like Anerca, Breath of Life would work best outside the traditional theatrical setting. Though the film is engaging, its almost episodic pacing of switching from story to story with very little overarching narratives or ideas causes the film to feel longer than it actually is. It also prevents the audience from fully getting lost into the stories as anytime one would truly get going, the film would switch to the next. In this sense, it absolutely feels like this film would thrive in a museum setting where audiences could bounce around tuning into the film for a few stories only to then take a break and return to it. There is little reward gained from watching the film entirely in one sitting that wouldn't be achieved by spacing out the viewing of the individual stories and if anything the actual impact especially of later stories is hurt by this choice in layout when viewed as a traditional film.
There is absolutely tons to respect and take away from Anerca, Breath of Life. The film feels like a legitimate piece of art, as it transports the audience to cultures different from their own with a craft and conviction that helps the film stand out greatly. Even if the film would work better if it was viewed in a different context, it still is overall worthwhile and is a celebration of diversity that highlights the true power of film and the importance of documentary filmmaking, not only bringing these cultures to life for others but also helping their stories and lives live on forever in their own words and context.
