Autumn on Ob River

Janno Simm

Year of Production: 2003 Category: C-film Duration: 46 min. Sound: mono Language: Russian English Subtitles Contact the director Near the mouth of Ob River in North-Western Siberia live the northernmost families of 22500 Khanty people. In conditions of harsh polar environment and post-Soviet unpredictability, coping is a challenge. Like many of their neighbors - kinsmen, the Tobolko family is a part of a fishing brigade. In order to survive, when pay is scarce and even that has not been paid for months, they employ the traditional economical model of Arctic, where hunting and reindeer herding add value to fishing activities. The film follows the autumnal activity of a Khanty fisherman family: end of main fishing season - moving over to winter settlement, hunting and reindeer herding activities. There is a story about “indigenous accountancy”- an unique balance system between fishing and reindeer herding Khanty, knowledge of fishing and hunting grounds…

Copyright: 2003 Visual Cultural Studies, University of Tromsø
For distribution, please contact:
Gøril Skotnes
Marit Gjertsen