Synopsis for the Film
Film: Baikal, The Immortal Lake
Country: Russia/France
Director: Jean Afanassieff
Duration: 52 min
Category: Waterscapes
‘The Blue Eye of Siberia’ ‘The Pearl’ ‘The Galapagos of Russia’ ‘The Lake Immortal’- it isn’t easy to put together the age, the isolation, the beauty, the vastness, the rapture of it all and the crystal blue of Lake Baikal in a single breath. One of the world’s foremost mountaineers and acclaimed documentarian Jean Afanassief captures a serene transcendental account of the largest reservoir of fresh water (20%of the world’s reserve) and the rare flora and fauna and the interesting human characters that inhabit the breathtaking scenery. With outstanding photographic images and gentle narration it slowly exposes the various political, social, environmental and even personal nuances associated with this magnificent creation of nature. Some believe Baikal is too vast to be affected by human interference… but given the recent developments (in 2006, after this film was shot, the proposal for a nuclear reactor was being considered), is that belief assuring enough?
More Details
Jean Afanassief is a mountaineer and director of Russian origin, born in Paris in 1953. Since becoming a mountain guide at 20, he has scaled several peaks including Mount Everest and documented amazing feats by fellow adventurists. His films are marked by a passion to share the encounters of ordinary characters in extra-ordinary situations, to convey the spirit of these ‘spontaneous’ actors and their stories and to discover ancient lands that are testimony to the natural heritage of mankind.
