Aatsinki: The Story of Arctic Cowboys

Film Review by Gareth Rice | 21 Feb 2014
Film title: Aatsinki: The Story of Arctic Cowboys
Director: Jessica Oreck
Starring: Aarne Aatsinki, Lasse Aatsinki, Raisa Korpela

The Aatsinki brothers, Aarne and Lasse are men of very few words, but even if they were to wax lyrical about their lives as reindeer herders (”poromies”) in Lapland their voices would echo into the massive silence. This is the backdrop for Jessica Oreck's insightful take on a way of life, which has often been overly romanticised by those who have never experienced it. She does a fine job balancing humour, drama and, literally, light and darkness.

Impressive aerial shots of reindeer on the move and breathtaking stills support the human narrative, which flows across the screen in an easygoing, cinematic wash. The powdery whiteness of everything makes the slaughter sequence look all the more bloody. Audiences will not fail to notice that Oreck has consciously and effectively sought to re-frame her long term fascination with American westerns and cowboys as a Nordic western of the Finnish order. [Gareth Rice]

21 Feb, GFT 2, 13.30

22 Feb, GFT 2, 13.30

http://www.glasgowfilm.org/festival/whats_on/5782_aatsinki_the_story_of_arctic_cowboys