In the Land of the Head Hunters

Although not a documentary per se, In the Land of the Head Hunters is nevertheless an invaluable historical document. Directed by legendary photographer Edward S. Curtis, who lived for a time with the Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) people of British Columbia and filmed some of their traditional dances for his lectures, this dramatic feature showcases rituals from the pre–white settlement era within the context of a fictional tale of love and war among the coastal tribes of the North Pacific. The actors are non-professionals, and the costumes, masks, canoes, and longhouses were all made by the Kwakwaka'wakw to faithfully represent their ancestors. Orphaned for decades, the film only existed in an incomplete version (1973's In the Land of the War Canoes) until a 2008 restoration added newly discovered footage and still images, along with the score composed for the 1914 debut. The images are worn at best and badly decomposed at worst, but this is a unique piece of film history that preserves some of the earliest visual depictions of North Pacific tribal culture and it anticipates the landmark documentary Nanook of the North. This Milestone release includes both versions of the film (2008 and 1973), along with extras such as a scholarly audio commentary, and featurettes on the film, restoration, and dances of the Kwakwaka'wakw tribe. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)