Filmmaker accused of manipulating Greenland documentary

The director of a documentary about Greenland nominated for Billed-Bladet magazine's television award has manipulated the film's footage in a way that distorts the true image of Greenland, say those who took part in making the documentary.

The film, 'Flugten fra Grønland' (Escaping Greenland), which premiered last October, was directed by Poul-Erik Heilbuth, who denied any 'creative' cutting had been done to give viewers the wrong impression of Greenlanders.

One example was voiced by one of Greenlanders in the film, David Kristoffersen. He said he was asked to show places where seals were caught in the town he lived in and was asked to wear old clothes that day.

'I didn't understand why at first, but after watching the documentary, I understood,' Kristoffersen told Politiken newspaper.

Footage of him showing the seal capture spots were later cut together with images of drunk Greenlanders and gave the impression that he was part of the miserable existence that has become the stereotyped image of Greenland.

Researcher Sørine Gejl, who has organised a demonstration against the film today, said that it did not give an accurate account of Greenland, and in many instances footage had been edited in a way that was 'directly manipulative'.

Gejl was hired as a researcher for the film and was the focal point between the participating Greenlanders and Heilbuth.

When the film aired last year on public broadcaster DR, she had on several occasions tried to contact DR and TV2 stations about her concerns, but to no avail.

The film has now been nominated for an award with a cash prize of DKK 100,000, and Gejl decided that enough was enough.

'Films like this one become a kind of evidence and that cannot happen,' she said. 'I won't deny that there are problems in Greenland, but you can't take people out of context to the degree that Poul-Erik has done.'

Another scene showed a little girl sitting outside a fishing hut eating seal meat.

'She's portrayed as a poor little wretch in front of this dilapidated house. But in reality, she has nothing to do with the house,' she said. 'And dried seal meat is a delicacy that costs around DKK 60 a kilo.'

As for the Heilbuth, he refused to comment on how far he had manipulated the film's content to make his point.

'I've made documentaries for 20 years and have never received a complaint. I think it would be more useful to discuss what can be done for Greenland than talk about my film four months after the premier,' he said.

The demonstration will take place today in front of Hotel D'Angleterre in downtown Copenhagen, where the award ceremony will be held. (LYT)

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