SVALBARD: SILENT GAMES
The
Story
For almost a century, three nationalities have coexisted
mainly on Svalbard Islands: Norwegians, Russians and
Ukrainians.
Life in the far north has never been easy; before airports,
settlements could only be reached by more than a week's
journey by ship. Because of this, the need for mutual aid
led to a cooperation between peoples never seen in the
rest of the world.
The Norwegian and Russian settlements have competed
in friendly sports competitions every year since 1936.
Neither the Cold War nor the collapse of the USSR ever
interrupted the exchanges.
Today, for the first time in nearly a century of history,
something has changed. All tournaments have been
canceled. Entire families, both Russian and Ukrainian,
have fled the Russian settlement, even before the war
began. This, an escape from the increasing control
imposed by Moscow to limit freedom of expression. The
beginning of the conflict worsened the already critical
situation.
The Russian settlement then changed leadership and, as a
result, those who disagreed returned home. The
Norwegian government, meanwhile, continued to
increase its control over the archipelago through the
removal of voting rights for more than 40 percent of
residents. Today the coexistence that has marked the
island for decades is beginning to falter. Will human
relations be able to survive?
Creativity by Red Sheep
Produced by Francesco Biscaglia & Niccolò Voltolini
Directed by Francesco Biscaglia
Written by Alessandro Monari
Original Music by Alessandro Loro
Cinematography by Niccolò Voltolini
Sound by Federico Botti
Still Photographs by Andrea Saltori
Partners Europe Creative Media
