Nordic Nights Movie Screening: The Seer & the Unseen

SYNOPSIS:
Set against the spectacular Icelandic landscape, THE SEER AND THE UNSEEN is a magic realist documentary about invisible elves, financial collapse, and the surprising power of belief. The documentary follows Ragnhildur “Ragga” Jónsdóttir, a grandmother and “seer” who has the ability to communicate directly with a parallel realm of elves, or huldufólk (hidden people) – invisible spirits of nature that over half of Iceland believes in. As one of the country’s most respected seers, government officials, businesses and individuals hire Ragga to consult the elves to learn where they can and cannot develop land.

But when Ragga is called upon to be the elves’ ‘Lorax’ and speak on behalf of nature under threat, she begins a journey to protect an ecologically important lava field set to be razed by road construction – just one of the many needless projects in the wake of Iceland’s financial meltdown in 2008, driven by the “invisible hand of the free market.” Through Ragga’s story, THE SEER AND THE UNSEEN explores the invisible forces – be they elves or the market – that shape our world and transform our natural landscapes. In doing so, the film reveals not only what is worth seeing but what is worth saving.

Films screen at the School of Image Arts, Ryerson University, Room 307, 122 Bond St. The venue is wheelchair accessible.

Doors open @ 6pm, films start @ 6.30 pm, along with two films from the recent Ryerson Student Film Workshop in Finland.

The event is FREE but donations gratefully received.

Sponsored by Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto, School of Image Arts, Ryerson University and Finnish Consulate in Toronto. Other remaining dates in the series are: Tues. Jan. 28 (Finnish) & Tues. Mar. 31. (Finnish)

 
Note: the Nordic Nights event is FREE but donations are welcome!