First released in 1922, Robert Flaherty’s documentary Nanook of the North has since become a legendary film. Often considered the first documentary in cinema history, Nanook of the North has had a profound impact on modern filmmaking.

It marked the birth of a genre that would flourish throughout the 20th century: the ethnographic documentary. The film depicts the daily life of Nanook, an Inuit hunter, and his family, who live in the Ungava region of northern Canada in the 1920s.

With Nanook, Robert Flaherty captures life in its rawness, in direct opposition to the harshness of the environment — life where you least expect it.

Shown in the form of a live cinema concert, the film is accompanied by a live performance of original music by Anne Paceo — her first experience composing music for picture. She shares the stage with two fellow musicians: Laura Perrudin and Gauthier Toux.

Melodic pulses and faraway wanderings, vivid imagery and colorful inspirations… This is the essence of Anne Paceo’s music.

Beating time as one crosses distances, navigating rhythmic landscapes like geographical ones — between North and South, Anne Paceo continues her journey through the world in search of new cultures and new sounds.

The music she composed for Nanook is an invitation to escape — surreal sonic short films for silent landscapes.

“There’s something timeless about these images, yet also deeply modern. So I decided to work with electronics, synthesizers, and electric harp to contrast with the organic textures of drums and voices.”