The Canoe
March 5, 2017 5:46 AM Subscribe
The Canoe - a film by Goh Iromoto.
A beautiful and evocative short film from Goh Iromoto describes the importance of the canoe to many different Canadians, from first generation immigrants exploring the waterways around Toronto to First Nations teens rediscovering the art of building birch-bark canoes.
A beautiful and evocative short film from Goh Iromoto describes the importance of the canoe to many different Canadians, from first generation immigrants exploring the waterways around Toronto to First Nations teens rediscovering the art of building birch-bark canoes.
Apparently there is a part of the human brain that "lights up" when you see animals, this makes sense as animals fascinate. I have long wondered if the same thing attends the rivers lakes and seas. I feel drawn to boats and ships, to being on the water in a way that feels biologically based.
posted by Pembquist at 10:24 AM on March 5, 2017
posted by Pembquist at 10:24 AM on March 5, 2017
Wow... thanks for that... a beautiful and well made film.
I've paddled since I was a kid. I'm closing on 69 now and still have a 20 year old Stockton canoe (hand built by Brett Stockton, multiple year winner of the Ausable Canoe Race) and two Kayaks, all of them getting used every summer.
This film identified many of the reasons I still love being on the water and prefer a paddle to any other means of propulsion.
I'm fortunate to live along the Huron River in lower Michigan. The Huron, if you follow the right branch westward, comes to within a few miles of a small branch of the Grand River. My lake, Portage Lake, is the turn off from the Huron to eventually reach that short portage which allowed early settlers and explorers to make the journey from Detroit to Chicago without traversing the Great Lakes. The feeling of going up this small stream and knowing it has been followed for all these years is sometimes breathtaking.
Spring is just around the corner, time to clean the leaves off the boats and rig the fishing pole...
posted by HuronBob at 12:05 PM on March 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
I've paddled since I was a kid. I'm closing on 69 now and still have a 20 year old Stockton canoe (hand built by Brett Stockton, multiple year winner of the Ausable Canoe Race) and two Kayaks, all of them getting used every summer.
This film identified many of the reasons I still love being on the water and prefer a paddle to any other means of propulsion.
I'm fortunate to live along the Huron River in lower Michigan. The Huron, if you follow the right branch westward, comes to within a few miles of a small branch of the Grand River. My lake, Portage Lake, is the turn off from the Huron to eventually reach that short portage which allowed early settlers and explorers to make the journey from Detroit to Chicago without traversing the Great Lakes. The feeling of going up this small stream and knowing it has been followed for all these years is sometimes breathtaking.
Spring is just around the corner, time to clean the leaves off the boats and rig the fishing pole...
posted by HuronBob at 12:05 PM on March 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
I loved this film and wanted to make it an FPP in its own right (especially because of the wonderful diversity of viewpoints all united by their love of paddling), but this film maker has also made a couple of lovely films with Ray Mears, the British wilderness guide, that are also canoe-heavy and worth watching - We Belong to It and The Path of Grey Owl.
I haven't canoed in many years, but as you say HuronBob, spring is just around the corner...
posted by Happy Dave at 12:25 PM on March 5, 2017
I haven't canoed in many years, but as you say HuronBob, spring is just around the corner...
posted by Happy Dave at 12:25 PM on March 5, 2017
Pembquist, a study did find living by the ocean to be beneficial, as well as that age-old prescription to "go to the sea" when in ill physical/mental health.
posted by saucysault at 1:18 PM on March 5, 2017
posted by saucysault at 1:18 PM on March 5, 2017
What a lot of fun. The video has more slowmo than I like, but the scenery is lovely.
I'm jealous because the little canoe I built just doesn't quite work for me - from not knowing how to shape the hull it's very tippy, and though my daughter can use it fine my c.g. is too high so it throws me out; the next one will be flatter and fatter. There aren't many nice places here for paddling but this will be an impetus to make a new boat.
posted by anadem at 9:52 PM on March 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm jealous because the little canoe I built just doesn't quite work for me - from not knowing how to shape the hull it's very tippy, and though my daughter can use it fine my c.g. is too high so it throws me out; the next one will be flatter and fatter. There aren't many nice places here for paddling but this will be an impetus to make a new boat.
posted by anadem at 9:52 PM on March 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
But think how much faster he could go with an outboard motor!
(Beautiful, calm, and soulful)
posted by greenhornet at 1:10 AM on March 6, 2017
(Beautiful, calm, and soulful)
posted by greenhornet at 1:10 AM on March 6, 2017
I went to elementary school with Goh for a few years. He's had just gotten his hands on a camcorder and tried to make every single class project into a video. I switched schools and then later ran into him when i worked at the sailing school next to the canoe school he worked at. Spent all day on the water trying not to let our campers crash into each other, and evenings partying. Canoeing and filmmaking have been passions of his for a long time.
posted by captaincrouton at 6:05 PM on March 6, 2017
posted by captaincrouton at 6:05 PM on March 6, 2017
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posted by saucysault at 9:11 AM on March 5, 2017