Review of Qivitoq

Qivitoq (1956)
7/10
Old, but sweet movie set in Greenland
24 July 2015
Greenland is a beautiful setting, and considering the time it was made, it was also an interesting setting politically. The relationship between Greenland and Denmark was, to an extent, the relationship between and colonizer and the colonized. But, as seen in this movie, it was not a hostile relationship. This movie could have easily been one that made fun of Greenland, but the movie tries to be fair with the greenlanders. However, it's not always successful at this. It seems that the movie suggests that women and greenlanders are about equally irrational, and that the greenlanders are nice, but simple people. If the movie was made today, I'm sure the view would be a bit more nuanced. It was obviously not meant as any ill will from the movie makers, but rather as a product of its time.

The movie itself actually has an interesting love story, combined with a take on the qivitoq-stories from Greenland. Not only do we see a young man deciding on becoming a qivitoq, it can also be related to both the protagonists. The man has escaped from Danish society to be on his own, and the girl also attempts some kind of escape from society.

The highlight of the movie is the nature, though. It has some beautiful shots of Greenland, and actually some impressive stunts on the glaciers.
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