by Jesse Dixon
Coming in at 100km longer than Bart Schrijver’s debut hike-based feature,The North is a personal tale about two estranged friends who will walk the equivalent of fourteen marathons before finally talking about their feelings.
And this is far from far-fetched. As Schrijver understands through his own experiences, based on a specific dedication that opens the film, deep and vulnerable communication between men is truly a rare event. Sometimes, it really does take six hundred kilometres of close proximity to force men to open up. As mulled upon by a fellow traveller, one of the friends (Bart Harder) comes across, nature is where the truth comes out.
Chris (Harder) and Lluis (Carlos Pulido) haven’t kept in touch for the last ten years; their last night together was a relaxed affair of drinking and draw-fours. The mystery of what has kept them apart for so long is never confirmed, and the two protagonists certainly aren’t going to tell you, as they have enough trouble talking to each other. There are some painfully awkward small-talk scenes during which the lack of communication is nothing short of enraging. This may very well have been the point, but it’s frustrating all the same. You’d think ten years is a lot of time to catch up on!
On occasion, the silence is rewarding. During cases where the two men are separated, you can tell how lonely they are without each other. Their strides, particularly Chris’s, become more determined, as if every step further has to be willed from brain to foot instead of a mindless action. The scenes at the beach towards the end of the film are significantly impactful, something about the vastness, the inability to see the end, the same landscape as far as you can see, instigates a feeling of hopelessness. And when the men do make noise, in the form of yelling into the abyss, it is all the more powerful.
There’s only so much time, however, that two men with appalingly low WPM’s walking a hiking trail can be captivating for. Sure, the cinematography is absolutely gorgeous, but if that’s the only thing going for it, what’s stopping the viewer from pausing the film and getting out in nature themselves? Or, again, is that the point?
To put another spring in this film’s step, we are treated to the occasional traveller, each with 1-2 minutes of screentime and a sincere monologue about life. There’s the aforementioned Nature = Truth Guy, Sunset Lady, Circle Friend, and most significantly, Fundraising Man. Fundraising Man is hiking to raise awareness and funds in honour of his recently deceased brother, who passed away from testicular cancer. He has a purpose, a clear-cut motivation, a driving force behind every step he takes. This challenges both Chris and Lluis, as they look to each other and consider: what am I doing here?
A question I frequently posed to myself whilst sitting through this 135-minute film.
This is a criticism that gets thrown around a lot nowadays. Even Best Picture One Battle Another copped plenty of strays regarding its runtime. I strongly believe that films are allowed to be long if the plot serves it, but unfortunately, that’s not the case here. It’s nothing to do with the content, which is quite moving, but there isn’t two and a quarter hours’ worth of film here! If The North were 95 minutes, it would be sharper edited, more attractive to an undecided viewer, and the same story beats could have remained intact.
I’d like to end this review by offering my complete admiration for the cast and crew. This was a humble production. The filmmaking team walked the trail alongside the actors, carrying cameras, sound equipment, costumes, and all other necessary items on their backs for the entire 600km journey. Their dedication to producing great cinema is inspiring.
Looking forward to Bart Schrijver’s next film: The Long Walk 2: Even Longer!
The North premiered at the Russell Hobbs British Film Festival in November 2025 and will be released into Australian cinemas from the 4th of June.