Last Days οf the Arctic

Ragnar Axelsson, a.k.a. RAX, is among the most celebrated photographers in the world. His series “Faces of the North“ are a living document of the dying cultures of the far northern reaches of the planet, mainly Icelandic farmers, fishermen, and the great hunters of Greenland. His fascination with people who try to survive in extreme circumstances took him 25 years ago from Iceland to Greenland, where he “struck gold.” His photo essays of the hunters of Greenland are legendary. RAX could well have been a hunter himself – and we watch him as he stalks his images and strikes at the opportune moment. Fascinated by stories of half-forgotten people who have adapted to unspeakably harsh conditions, RAX is now documenting them as they cope with extreme changes to those conditions caused by climate change. Last Days of the Arctic is a celebration of the photographer and his subjects; an elegy for a disappearing landscape and the people who inhabit it.

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Script: Margret Jonasdottir

Cinematography: Arnar Thorisson, Ingolfur Sverrir Guοjonsson

Editing: Jakob Halldorsson

Sound: Nick Cathcart-Jones

Music: Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson

Production: Sagafilm, Iceland T.+354 690 8900 margret@sagafilm.iswww.sagafilm.is

Producers: Magnus Vidar Sigur?sson, Kjartan Thor Thordarson, Margret Jonasdottir

Co-production: gebrueder beetz filmproduktion (Germany), BBC Storyville (UK), Independent Television Service (USA), AVRO (The Netherlands)

Format: DigiBeta Color-B&W

Production Country: Iceland-Germany-UK-USA-The Netherlands

Production Year: 2011

Duration: 90

Contact: MercuryMedia International Ltd, UK Ben Wharton T. +44 20 7221 7221 F. +44 20 7221 7228 ben@mercurymedia.org www.mercurymedia.org

Magnus Vidar Sigur?sson

Filmography

1999 Last Waltz (TV)
2000 Si?asti valsinn/Cod Wars (TV)
2003 Hetjur Hafsins/Wild Seas
2003 Eg lifi... Vestmannaeyjagosid 1973/Surviving the Volcano
2007 Sjanghaejad til sjos/Shanghaiing Days
2011 Andit nor?ursins/The Last Days of the Arctic