With a thirty-kilo backpack and a budget you’d expect to find at a kitchen table rather than in a film studio, the Dutch-English film “The North” takes an unexpected turn. No stars on red carpets, no drone shots of a multi-million dollar production, but mud, blisters, and Scottish rain. Yet, this film achieves precisely what so many in the genre miss: authenticity.
“The North” opens in Dutch cinemas on July 31st. The film, directed by Bart Schrijver, follows two friends on a 600-kilometer hike through the Scottish Highlands . What sounds like a tranquil hike turns out to be a raw, confrontational journey, where nature, friendship, and personal demons alternate like the Highland weather.
Friendship on deserted paths
Chris and Lluis, once roommates, are setting off on a new journey together. What begins as an attempt to reconnect with their former life unfolds as a painfully honest search for themselves. Chris remains trapped in thoughts of work and home, while Lluis is determined to complete the journey. The Highlands are not merely a backdrop, but a co-star. Silence becomes a voice, loneliness a mirror.
Filming on muscle power
Director Bart Schrijver believes you can only make a film about hiking believable by actually hiking. And that’s exactly what he did. With a crew of six, including two actors, a sound engineer, and a cameraman, he walked almost half the route himself.
The writer rewrote the scenes daily, adapting them to the weather and the mood of the day. The result is not a polished script, but a film that breathes like the Highland weather: changeable, intense, real. Watch the
making-of here.
From kitchen table to world map
With a budget of €75,000, “The North” proves that passion outweighs subsidies. No support from major funds, but international recognition: the film has already been sold to New Zealand and Australia after a successful online release.
The rugged landscapes were captured by cinematographer Twan Peeters, who previously worked with Schrijver on ‘Human Nature’. And anyone familiar with the cast from ‘Slag om de Schelde’ or ‘Mocro Mafia’ will be amazed at how small they appear against the majesty of nature.
An ode to being on the road
“A film about walking” might sound like something for gray socks and thermoses. “The North” is anything but. It’s a silent storm, an ode to friendship, failure, and perseverance. No grand drama, but strength lies in the small things. In a glance, a gust of wind, a tear in a shoe. For those who dare to watch, this film offers more than many blockbusters: the confrontation with yourself.
Because ultimately, “The North” isn’t just a film. It’s an experience you can feel on your feet. A plea for slowing down, for discomfort, for silence. And yes, you do have to sit down for that.
