{"id":29238,"date":"2026-04-13T08:38:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T08:38:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/?p=29238"},"modified":"2026-04-13T08:48:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T08:48:52","slug":"film-review-the-north","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/film-review-the-north\/","title":{"rendered":"Film review – The North"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Whilst there have been quite a few quality films about climbing and mountaineering over the years, movies about walking are few and far between. Wild<\/em>, the story of Cheryl Strayed’s hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Way<\/em>, Emilio Estevez’ movie about hiking the Camino de Santiago, are the only ones I recall from recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I was very keen to see Bart Schrijver’s film The North<\/em>, which is being released in UK cinemas on 24 April after a series of preview screenings. The North tells the story of lapsed best friends Chris and Lluis, played with great naturalism by Bart Harder and Charles Pulido. They reunite – after 10 years apart – to undertake a long hike – a 350 mile back-to-back trip along the West Highland Way and the Cape Wrath Trail.<\/p>\n\n\n

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This is a slow-paced, meditative film, much like… well, like the experience of actually undertaking a long distance walk. The movie requires you to sink gradually into the landscape along with its protagonists. There is no melodrama here – instead a gentle character study of two young men trying to find their way in the world, as well as out on the trail, with the Highland landscape as a captivating backdrop. It took a while for me to adjust to the deliberate pace, but I found it more and more compelling as the film continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the start it seems like Chris has his future life all mapped out with partner, career and house in place, whilst Lluis has ditched his first career start and is drifting somewhat, trying to re-discover his creativity and inspiration. Neither of them are easy conversationalists, and we keenly feel the difficulty in old friends meeting after a long absence, unsure if they still share the same outlook that once made them close. Chris and Lluis struggle not just to connect with each other, but to be honest with themselves about who they are, and where they are going with their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dutch director Bart Schrijver hiked both trails solo in April 2024 prior to making the film. He then returned in July and August that year, head of a tiny crew to make the film; usually on location it was just himself, the two main actors, two cameramen and a sound engineer. Describing the shoot, he has said “You can\u2019t explain what it feels like to hike through nature for such a long time. You have to experience it. That\u2019s why we filmed while hiking. Everyone carried a tent, food, hiking clothes\u2014and on top of that, the film equipment: two cameras, batteries, a tripod, sound gear. Our backpacks weighed anywhere between 22 and 32 kilos. We slept in our tents at night. To create a film about hiking in the Highlands, we had to walk through them. We had to feel it.”<\/p>\n\n\n

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The result is a film that feels authentic and genuine. Many Walkhighlands readers will recognise the locations – some of them truly remote – and most of them are shown in correct sequence. Anyone who has undertaken a long distance hike, especially in Scotland, will find so much to recognise here. The long days with endless changes in weather, from calmness and sun to the worst of Highland rain and wind. The ritual of cooking dinner on a gas stove each night. Brief but memorable meetings with strangers. Pitching the tent each night – and forever being uncertain of whether there might be a better spot just a short distance away. The struggles with failing items of kit, doubts, niggling pains and injuries. The awkward disconnect when communicating with those back at home – whether colleagues or family – as the gap in what you are experiencing is so large. Finding respite in a bothy. Dancing around frantically to fend off the midges in the evening. Momentary, magical encounters with wildlife. Taking out frustration on a companion when the going becomes a real struggle. Sudden bursts of overpowering emotions, and the clarity and different perspective the hike gives on your everyday existence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These things all resonated with me, they are real and they are not things I ever expected to see portrayed at the cinema. The North<\/em> is a genuine love-letter, both to the Scottish Highlands and to the experience of long distance walking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The North is in UK cinemas from Friday 24 April; previews from 20 March. Check screenings here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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