
Independent Lens
One With the Whale
Hunting whales is a matter of life or death for the residents of St. Lawrence.
Meet the man, the myth, the dogsledding legend George Attla--the greatest sportsman you’ve never heard of.
Catharine Axley is a documentary filmmaker who seeks stories of empowerment through subjects that defy expectations. She co-directs Paper Bridge Films with fellow Attla producer Kristine Stolakis. Her films have played at festivals including San Francisco International Film Festival, DOC NYC, Harlem International Film Festival, and the United… Show more
Kristine Stolakis is a BAFTA-nominated documentary filmmaker and producer. She co-directs Paper Bridge Films with Attla director Catharine Axley. Her films have played at festivals internationally, including Hot Docs, DOC NYC, and Seattle International and have been featured in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Buzzfeed, and Mother Jones. Her film Where We Stand… Show more
Melissa Langer is a documentary filmmaker and cinematographer based in Oakland. She holds an M.F.A. in Documentary Film & Video from Stanford University and a B.A. in History from Carleton College. Her short films include Treasure Island, Hauled Out, and Terms of Intimacy. Her film, My Aleppo, tells the story of a young Syrian family in South Africa as… Show more
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In spite of having the full use of just one leg, George Attla became a ten-time world champion dogsled racer and an almost mythical hero in his hometown. A Native Alaskan from a remote area, Attla is a complex man: part dog whisperer, part ingenious businessman, part conniving competitor, and part former teenage heartthrob. His 50-year race career was a balancing act between his Native identity and lifestyle and the temptation of commercialization and celebrity. With his health declining, Attla comes out of retirement to pass down knowledge to a young racer, his grandnephew, who hopes to restore the rich Native racing tradition in his village.
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