The North

Writer and Director: Bart Schrijver

Director Kevin Smith dismissed The Lord of the Rings trilogy as being nothing more than three films about characters walking to a volcano. Mr Smith is unlikely to care for Bart Schrijver’s The North which doesn’t even feature a volcano just two blokes walking.

Chris (Bart Harder) and Lluis (Carles Pulido) are unlikely friends being different nationalities (respectively Dutch and Latino) and personalities. After years apart the former roommates decide to reconnect by hiking along Scotland’s 600km West Highland Way and Cape Wrath Trail. However, the arduous and monotonous journey strains rather than strengthens the friendship particularly when secrets start to emerge.

The failure to communicate is a theme of the film as men, rightly in my opinion, are reluctant to express their emotions.  Writer/director Bart Schrijver, therefore, relies heavily upon his cast to communicate wordlessly, by facial signals and physical gestures, and upon the viewer to interpret events. A rare comic moment involves the friends trying to muffle laughter and keep straight faces as a fellow traveller whoops with exaggerated delight at the sight of a sunrise which, through heavy cloud, is a definite disappointment.

Schrijver shows cheerful distain for the way modern technology ensures people can be contacted every hour of the day. The film opens with a lone hiker receiving a text message – it says turn off the phone and enjoy the view. The North is, however, a balanced film. The therapeutic value of silence and solitude is offset against the draining monotony of long distance walking, the danger of hiking in the dark with only a flashlight for illumination and the sheer frustration of erecting a tent in the pouring rain. The human drama is put into perspective by the two friends appearing as tiny insignificant figures against a majestic natural landscape.

The North is such a subtle film that the odd occasion when a theme is verbalised feels almost clumsy. Chris encounters a retiree who is bemused that his friends and family question why he spends his retirement hiking but never ask why he spent five days a week working in an office job he disliked.

Bart Harder’s Chris seems the more mature of the duo; regular phone calls from his office make clear he has an important role, and is missed, in the workplace and he has plans for the future –possibly a child with his partner. Chris takes an evangelical approach to the hike, determined to take his time and enjoy every moment.

Carles Pulido’s Lluis is more enigmatic, potentially untrustworthy. At an early point in the hike Lluis declares a knee injury is playing up and he can no longer continue. Yet after he re-joins his friend the injury is never mentioned again. Upon meeting a hiker who is trying to raise awareness about testicular cancer Lluis claims to have been treated for the disease- something he has never mentioned to Chris; suggesting either he is fibbing or is blasé about the friendship.

Both actors have the chance to shine as their characters reach moments of clarity or crisis. The isolation arising from walking the trail alone is communicated by Bart Harder, shivering and close to tears in frightening darkness. As the strain becomes hard to endure Harder shows Chris having a crisis of faith manifesting as a full panic attack, shedding his belongings and stumbling forward weeping heedlessly.

Lluis makes an outward show of indifference having quit his job without a clear idea of his next goal. He must, however, be concealing a considerable emotional burden as Carles Pulido has a remarkably tender epiphany at the end, gazing around in bewilderment before howling his relief.

As befits a film about walking The North has a leisurely pace allowing the viewer time to appreciate the stunning visuals while the understated approach makes for a surprisingly effective and gently moving film.

The North will be in UK Cinemas from 24th April.