In the Shape of a Reindeer Across the Canopy of Heaven…

The first instalment of the Nenets trilogy follows the herding migrations in the tundra. In an attempt to capture the rhythm of their lifestyle, Lehmuskallio got as near as possible to the people, while remaining aware of the historical circumstances. The shooting took place in 1990, one year before the collapse of the Soviet Union that brought an end to the traditional ways of Nenets life, the last moments of which were captured here. This was his first collaboration with Lapsui. The songs sung by her and her mother, a poetic expression of their people’s history, became a part of the narrative.