The North at Luna

Carles Pulido (as Lluis) Bart Harder (as Chris) in The North

On a Saturday morning, I caught up with friends at Luna Leederville to watch the preview of The North.

The story line of The North revolves around two friends - Chris (Bart Harder) and Lluis (Carles Pulido) who reconnect with each other as they walk a 600 km trail through the Scottish Highlands. 

Their walk starts out pleasantly enough, but during their hike they are met with challenges – both from facing the elements of nature as well as from trials of the human spirit.

Tears and laughter are experienced at different points in their journey – but what we witness are two friends who catch up on each other’s lives, try to navigate the awkwardness of some difficult moments and work through their differences as they tackle the trail.

Along the way – they also share laughs, have adventures, and experience some memorable moments immersed in nature. The beauty and vastness of the region is jaw dropping – whilst at the same time Chris and Lluis navigate their own internal issues.

It was an interesting movie in that it tackled the bond between men and their friends, and what goes on between friends. There was intimacy in what was shared between the two men in their conversations, and also in what was left unsaid, and as the viewer we are left to acknowledge that both men carry emotional scars from their past life experiences.

The other aspect about watching the movie that struck me vividly was that being “out in nature” and tackling the elements is no easy feat – it can be wild, it can be unpredictable and no matter how much preparation is done ahead of a big adventure, issues will arise to challenge the human spirit.

That the two friends celebrate the completion of their walk together is a massive achievement and in turn they are also changed individuals as a result of their hike.

Director and Writer Bart Schrijver has created a masterful piece of work with outstandingly crisp cinematography – one can only imagine the mammoth effort that was taken to create such a beautiful film.

At just over 2 hours long, movie goers (especially hikers) who enjoy a story about two male friends reconnecting over a 30 day long hike against the background of some spectacular scenery of the Scottish Highlands will enjoy The North.

There is something very satisfying about having completed a long hike – and The North will also take you on an amazing and interesting cinematic journey.

The North opens at Luna on Thursday 4 June.

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