The Islands and the Whales

Friday, October 6 - Thursday, October 12, 2017

In their remote home in the North Atlantic the Faroe Islanders have always eaten what nature could provide, proud to put local food on the table. The land yields little, so they have always relied on harvesting their seas. Hunting whales and seabirds kept them alive for generations, and gave them the way of life they love; a life they would pass on to their children. But today they face a grave threat to this tradition. It is not the controversy surrounding whaling that threatens the Faroese way of life; the danger is coming from the whales themselves. The Faroese are among the first to feel the affects of our ever more polluted oceans. They have discovered that their beloved whales are toxic, contaminated by the outside world. What once secured their survival now endangers their children and the Faroe Islanders must make a choice between health and tradition.

Winner: Grand Jury Prize (Viewfinders Competition), DOC NYC

• Country Scotland, UK, Denmark
• Language English, Faroese, Danish with English subtitles
• Year 2017
• Running Time 83 minutes
• Director Mike Day

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