Where Am I?

Originally aired as an episode of CBC's The Nature of Things with David Suzuki, Bruce Mohun's documentary Where Am I? attempts to answer the age-old question of why some people have an excellent sense of direction but others constantly become lost whenever they leave home. In trying to understand the secrets of navigation, the film offers a wide variety of explanations, ranging from complex theories of neuroscience to elementary clues that help folks get between Points A and B. Complicating matters is the advent of GPS technology, which enables people to turn off their inner navigation skills, essentially letting a computer handle this function. The film also details how insects adapt to finding their way to and from their nests, and (in a remarkable sequence) looks at how an Inuit hunter can drive a snowmobile across the Arctic and know directions by assessing patterns in the vast snowy landscapes. Offering a fine introduction to understanding brain functions within distinctive environmental situations, this intriguing and entertaining documentary is recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)