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In their remote home in the North Atlantic, the Faroe Islanders have always survived on a diet of whales and seabirds. But as mercury increasingly enters the food chain, the Faroese must reconsider their traditional way of life.
“A film that is jaw- dropping in its visual splendour.” – CineVue
Life in the Faroe Islands is intimately tied to the rugged landscape and the surrounding North Atlantic sea. Hunting whales has always been a crucial source of food and also an important part of the Faroese identity – one they hold onto resolutely in the face of growing pressure by animal rights activists. But with global pollution on the rise, increasing levels of mercury are entering the food chain and eating whale meat is no longer safe.
With careful observation and deep understanding, The Islands and the Whales immerses us in the Faroese life and explores the heart of this nuanced, divisive problem from the inside: how does a community choose between their health and their traditional way of life?