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Arctic Link: Connecting Worlds Beneath the Waves
14 Mar
Summary
- Documentary traces the epic scale of submarine internet cable installation.
- Filmmaker spent 10 years gaining access to installation ships.
- Film explores the human element amidst vast technological infrastructure.
Filmmaker Ian Purnell's debut feature, Arctic Link, world-premiered at CPH:DOX on March 16. This documentary chronicles the immense undertaking of laying fiber optic cables across the Arctic Ocean.
The film, a decade in the making, reveals the hidden world of internet infrastructure. Purnell sought to understand these unseen routes by joining colossal ships, a process that demanded extraordinary patience due to various challenges including storms and project cancellations.
Arctic Link juxtaposes the vastness of the operation with the intimate experiences of the ship's Filipino crew. Their cell phones serve as their primary connection to loved ones, emphasizing the human scale against the backdrop of enormous technology.
Purnell aimed to create fresh visual and audio representations of the internet, moving beyond typical server imagery. The film employs a steampunk aesthetic from the ship's 1980s origins, contrasting with high-tech visuals and portraying cables as living entities.
The documentary also captures the perspectives of Alaskan villagers awaiting this digital connection, highlighting their awareness of its potential impacts. Purnell's future projects may explore equally vast themes, such as astronomy and black holes.
