This documentary depicts the harsh life lived by some inhabitants of Bakhtia, Russia, a small village in Siberia (55 degrees north, 92 degrees east). Bakhtia is isolated, available only by ship and helicopter in the summer months. Otherwise the people there are on their own
The movie concentrates on one Gennady Soloviev, a hardy fur trapper and hunter. Gennady is pretty much occupied full time just making a go of it--setting traps, stocking caches in summer for winter use, chopping wood, and so forth. Much of the year in the Bakhtia area is spent in sub-zero temperatures, with readings of -30F not being unusual. I am not too keen on being out at sub-zero temperatures for any great length of time. When Gennady sees that snow has damaged one of his cottages he has no problem with diving in and repairing it in -30F weather. The making of a canoe from scratch after downing a tree, using only an ax, was impressive--it is my observation that that is not a common talent in 21st century America. Paddling against the current on the Yenisei River looks to be an activity only for the strong. Watching this made me realize how far from elementary survival concerns most people in the United States are.
The movie credits Dmitry Vasyukov as co-director. Vasyukov actually filmed all of the material for a four hour documentary and, for this movie, Herzog has taken that footage and edited it to 90 minutes, adding his narration. It would be of interest to see the original, since I suspect Herzog has imposed a certain idealized romanticism that reflects his own views rather than those of Vasyukov.
For example, Herzog comments that, "They live off the land and are self reliant, truly free. No rules, no taxes, no government, no laws, no bureaucracy, no phones, no radio, equipped only with their individual values and standard of conduct." I think no society, however small, can function without understood rules and some form of structure. Gennady has the right to trap on a certain land area, such area being delineated by government oversight. The self reliance is not totally true. How did Gennady come by his snow mobile and chainsaw? Where did the gas come from to power those machines? Supplies were flown in by helicopter and ship; how were those supplies paid for? I wanted more information on the local economy. Since trapping sables was prized, I assume that sable fur was sold to high end consumers as part of how the trappers could afford to buy their supplies.
As for happiness, I did not see these people as being exceptionally happy. Gennady admitted to despising some trappers that he saw as greedy. Is Gennady any happier than a computer programmer in Los Angeles who is passionate about her work?
The movie concentrates on one Gennady Soloviev, a hardy fur trapper and hunter. Gennady is pretty much occupied full time just making a go of it--setting traps, stocking caches in summer for winter use, chopping wood, and so forth. Much of the year in the Bakhtia area is spent in sub-zero temperatures, with readings of -30F not being unusual. I am not too keen on being out at sub-zero temperatures for any great length of time. When Gennady sees that snow has damaged one of his cottages he has no problem with diving in and repairing it in -30F weather. The making of a canoe from scratch after downing a tree, using only an ax, was impressive--it is my observation that that is not a common talent in 21st century America. Paddling against the current on the Yenisei River looks to be an activity only for the strong. Watching this made me realize how far from elementary survival concerns most people in the United States are.
The movie credits Dmitry Vasyukov as co-director. Vasyukov actually filmed all of the material for a four hour documentary and, for this movie, Herzog has taken that footage and edited it to 90 minutes, adding his narration. It would be of interest to see the original, since I suspect Herzog has imposed a certain idealized romanticism that reflects his own views rather than those of Vasyukov.
For example, Herzog comments that, "They live off the land and are self reliant, truly free. No rules, no taxes, no government, no laws, no bureaucracy, no phones, no radio, equipped only with their individual values and standard of conduct." I think no society, however small, can function without understood rules and some form of structure. Gennady has the right to trap on a certain land area, such area being delineated by government oversight. The self reliance is not totally true. How did Gennady come by his snow mobile and chainsaw? Where did the gas come from to power those machines? Supplies were flown in by helicopter and ship; how were those supplies paid for? I wanted more information on the local economy. Since trapping sables was prized, I assume that sable fur was sold to high end consumers as part of how the trappers could afford to buy their supplies.
As for happiness, I did not see these people as being exceptionally happy. Gennady admitted to despising some trappers that he saw as greedy. Is Gennady any happier than a computer programmer in Los Angeles who is passionate about her work?