HAIDA GWAII: ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD (Charles Wilkinson). 74 minutes. Opens Friday (November 20). See listings. Rating: NNNN
Winner of best Canadian feature documentary at Hot Docs earlier this year, Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World follows Peace Out and Oil Sands Karaoke in producer/director Charles Wilkinson’s OK Or Not OK trilogy exploring humanity’s stewardship of the planet.
Set on the archipelago off the coast of British Columbia, Haida Gwaii examines the ethos of individual commitment and activism of the Haida people, who are proud of their aboriginal heritage, fiercely protective of their rights and resources, and actively working to create a better world.
Wilkinson and producer Tina Schliessler create a meditative flow of interviews and landscape, illustrating conversations with scientists, journalists and artists with spectacular footage of the islands.
The result does occasionally feel like a promotional video for the Haida culture. But it’s a culture that deserves promoting.
