Cinematic lodestar: Stella Polaris points to effects of climate change on icy landscape

Yatri Niehaus film explores beauty of Greenland -- facing cultural, environmental transformation

Ice, stars and the Northern Lights -- part of the stunning imagery of "Stella Polaris," the documentary by Yatri Niehaus that explores climate change in Greenland. Photo courtesy Reflektorfilm

In Greenland there isn't much debate over the reality of climate change. People there see its effect all around them. 

Greenlanders are seeing not only their landscape transformed, but their culture too which is, one might say, imbedded in ice. The film Stella Polaris Ulloriarsuaq captures this critical moment in the country's history by documenting a unique photographic project that records the vanishing "big ice" of Greenland.

The documentary held its world premiere at the LA Film Festival last month, where Nonfictionfilm.com editor spoke with director Yatri Niehaus and cinematographer Constantin Campean. Click below for our conversation about a warming planet, politics and shooting in extreme conditions.