For the first time, award-winning filmmaker Daryl Granger steps aboard the Great Lakes freighter Northern Venture for a one-week voyage across four of the five Great Lakes. Leaving behind the familiarity of land, he experiences firsthand the immense scale, beauty, and isolation of North America’s inland seas. From the towering Soo Locks to the engineering marvel of the Welland and Canal, the voyage reveals the skill and professionalism found on working freighters on the Great Lakes.
Review by Julie C. Sheppard;
Northern Venture – A Voyage Of A Great Lakes Freighter is an exhilarating feature, headed up by talented documentarian, Daryl Granger. It is a rigorous exploration of the vessel, from bow to stern. Granger leaves nothing unsaid about this resilient ship and its dedicated crew, using many filmic elements to make the viewer feel like another passenger right alongside him.
The camera lands on every possible angle of the ship and its mechanisms from top to bottom, both day and night. The film reveals how the ship is truly an engineering masterpiece, despite its rust and scratched paint, due to its years of hard labour. It is highly entertaining to witness the various employees working on the ship, from the experienced captain to agile deckhands, to a talented chef serving up delicious meals.
The lively and humorous narration by Granger is quite informative, notably the historical details about the ship, to operating costs, to staffing and industry news. In addition to his narration, on camera Granger is jovial and inquisitive, with lots of footage of his sheer enjoyment of his trip on board, both as a guest and as an observer.
Drone shots of the ship from above and sped up video as it moves are fabulous. It is fascinating to witness the various stops on the journey including using boat locks, and heavy equipment that enables potash to be loaded and unloaded. The soundtrack moves from energetic refrains as the ship hurdles along, to meditative piano and guitar during more picturesque moments. The film uses a wide variety of useful CGI images and diagrams to elucidate equipment, geology and water systems.
When this thrilling voyage ends, the viewer will likely have experienced a newfound respect for the durable freighter, and for those who take on this risky, yet exhilarating career.
