The Misanthrope (2007)
Dir. Ted Skjellum
Ted Skjellum is best known as Nocturno Culto, vocalist and lead guitarist of the band
Darkthrone. His first release as a filmmaker is something that's part video diary and part documentary. It shows via imagery, without narration, just what it is about the architecture and environment of Norway that was instrumental in creating an atmosphere for Black Metal to emerge and subsequently thrive in.
It's honest, hypnotic, insightful and occasionally inspired. At heart it captures the cold, ancient aspect of the beauty of nature that is, for me at least, what the music is really all about.
You should know within the first few minutes if it's something you can engage with or if it'll leave you as cold as a Norwegian graveyard.
