Told over the course of a year, this is the story of every small community across the world. Niaqornat just happens to be in Northwest Greenland, one of the remotest spots on earth. On The Edge is a witty, surprising and ultimately feel good portrait of village, surviving against the odds in an isolated community of 59 people and 100 dogs. We follow a year of the life of the village focusing on 4 key characters: LARS is the only teenager in town. "It is lonely being the only teenager - there are no internet cafes, no bars, just the shop".
Told over the course of a year, this is the story of every small community across the world. Niaqornat just happens to be in Northwest Greenland, one of the remotest spots on earth. On The Edge is a witty, surprising and ultimately feel good portrait of village, surviving against the odds in an isolated community of 59 people and 100 dogs. We follow a year of the life of the village focusing on 4 key characters: LARS is the only teenager in town. "It is lonely being the only teenager - there are no internet cafes, no bars, just the shop". There are no roads in or out either - if you want to leave then you go by helicopter weather permitting. Lars has never ventured further than a few miles up the coast, but regularly chats to his 200 friends across the globe on facebook. Teenage thrills are limited in Niaqornat but Lars lives a rich 'virtual' life. He orders the latest fashions over the internet, blasts out rap across the icebergs and is often to be seen dressed up with no-where to go and no-one to meet. Lars doesn't want to be a hunter in a community that relies on hunting - a brave and controversial decision that is further complicated by his relationship with estranged father Karl. KARL is Lar's father, the most respected hunter in the region and the only hunter to catch a polar bear across the peninsula this year. Karl believes that the spirit of his forefathers guides him when hunting large animals, the traditional way of life is in his blood. And yet Karl has ignored his own flesh and blood, his son Lars for years. Though Karl and Lars see each other each day they never communicate directly. ILANNGAUQ is the outsider who moved to Niaqornat for love having met his girlfriend online. When he first met her face to face he says that he couldn't keep his, 'paws off her'. He has taken the job no one else wants, collecting the bucket toilets from each home each day in a village without running water. Ilanngauq has a wry sense of humour about 'shit shovelling' but is also proud of his role "They call me 'the clock' - wihtout me the village doesn't run". Illanguap uses his entrepreneurial spirit to try and keep the village alive - he is the only Danish and English speaker and has started to welcome tourist ships to the village acting as the local guide. ANNIE, the oldest lady in Niaqornat is our window onto the past. Annie is related to almost all her neighbours and recalls the myths and stories of The Shamen; she can't imagine living anywhere else. Annie remembers when the community relied on seal blubber for light, and lived just from what they caught locally, before the introduction of the regular supply ship.
