Aatsinki: The Story of Arctic Cowboys
Posted by Fabio 23 November 2012
One year in the life of a family of reindeer herders in Finnish Lapland. A study of hard work, hard earned leisure, and an intricate bond between man and nature. Directed by Jessica Oreck.
Brothers Aarne and Lasse Aatsinki are cowboys of the Arctic. Quiet but good natured, dare-devilish but humble, rugged but gentle, and exceptionally knowledgeable when it comes to their little slice of wilderness. These men are what John Wayne wanted to be. The brothers, along with their wives and children, live well north of the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, where they are the leaders of a collective of traditional reindeer herders who manage the last group of wild reindeer in all of Finland. Aatsinki follows the family for the span of one year, quietly observing their seasonal routines and the difficulties and joys of a life so closely tied to the land.
“Aatsinki is part rugged cowboy adventure, part environmental study, and 100% a love letter to this family’s way of life. I found Aarne and Lasse while searching for the modern equivalent of the classic American frontier story. Though they ride snowmobiles instead of horses and wear fur hats instead of Stetsons, they are quintessential Arctic cowboys. Having made their home in one of the most extreme environments imaginable, they have pioneered and prospered where most people wouldn’t even vacation.
With Aatsinki, I hope to make sub-zero weather, 24-hour nights, and an intense bond with nature feel real to someone who has always had a thermostat and known the glow of electricity. The film creates an atmosphere, a soundscape, and a pace that will fully submerse the audience into Finnish Lapland and its people.” _Jessica Oreck
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