Werner Herzog once again tackles the man against nature theme, as he did with Grizzly Man previously. In that feature, he followed a guy living happily amongst a group of bears, until a very unfortunate ending. This time, he ventures to Siberia to tell the story of sable trappers battling the freezing cold and other elements in the frozen tundra of the Soviet Union. The scenery is spectacular, and the day to day lives of the inhabitants interesting to see from a modern western perspective. I love the Huskies, who accompany the hunters during the brutal conditions with seeming content. As for the humans, they seem to be satisfied with their physically demanding but rewarding lifestyles. Herzog narrates, as usual, with an attitude of respect for his subjects. He spends the ninety minutes sticking to the visual beauty of the wilderness from overhead to underwater shots below the frozen river. An interesting documentary.
Review of Happy People: A Year in the Taiga
