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Happy People: A Year in the Taiga

  • 2010
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
8.9K
YOUR RATING
Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)
A documentary about the indigenous people living in Bakhtia, the heart of the Siberian Taiga - some 300 villagers whose daily routines have barely changed over the last centuries, and who live according to their own values and cultural traditions.
Play trailer1:57
1 Video
9 Photos
Documentary

A documentary depicting the life and work of the trappers of Bakhtia, a village in the heart of the Siberian Taiga, where daily life has changed little in over a century.A documentary depicting the life and work of the trappers of Bakhtia, a village in the heart of the Siberian Taiga, where daily life has changed little in over a century.A documentary depicting the life and work of the trappers of Bakhtia, a village in the heart of the Siberian Taiga, where daily life has changed little in over a century.

  • Directors
    • Werner Herzog
    • Dmitry Vasyukov
  • Writers
    • Werner Herzog
    • Dmitry Vasyukov
    • Rudolph Herzog
  • Stars
    • Werner Herzog
    • Gennady Soloviev
    • Anatoly Blumei
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    8.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Werner Herzog
      • Dmitry Vasyukov
    • Writers
      • Werner Herzog
      • Dmitry Vasyukov
      • Rudolph Herzog
    • Stars
      • Werner Herzog
      • Gennady Soloviev
      • Anatoly Blumei
    • 27User reviews
    • 58Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos1

    Exclusive Trailer Premiere
    Trailer 1:57
    Watch Exclusive Trailer Premiere

    Photos9

    Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)
    Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)
    Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)
    Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)
    Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)
    Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)
    Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)
    Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)

    Cast

    Edit
    Werner Herzog
    Werner Herzog
    • Self - Narrator
    • (voice)
    Gennady Soloviev
    • Self - Trapper #1
    Anatoly Blumei
    • Self - Trapper #2
    Gennady Tiganov
    • Self - Native Boat Builder
    Mikhail Tarkovsky
    • Self - Trapper #3
    • Directors
      • Werner Herzog
      • Dmitry Vasyukov
    • Writers
      • Werner Herzog
      • Dmitry Vasyukov
      • Rudolph Herzog
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Honest and pure, facts, reality, no fluff. Real people surviving with generational skills. Riveting !
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Himself - Narrator: This is the village of Bakhtia In Siberia. Although it looks like winter to us, it's already spring here. The village is located In the heart of Siberia, and we should keep in mind that this colossal landmass is one and a half times the size of the United States. The endless wilderness that surrounds this place is known as the taiga. No roads or train lines traverse it. There are only two ways to reach this outpost - one is by helicopter, the other by boat. The expanse in the foreground is not solid ground but the frozen-over Yenisey River, one of the largest waterways in Siberia. It's only during the few Ice-free months of summer that boats can also reach Bakhtia.

      Himself - Narrator: Of the 300 or so inhabitants of this village, a handful of them make their livelihood as professional trappers. One of these men is Gennady Solovyev. Here he makes his way into the wilderness across an enormous frozen river. He wants to show us an essential tool of his profession.

      Gennady Soloviev: [demonstrating] An animal would approach and begin twisting the bait. The pressure is very light, I'll keep my hand in it. Let me show you. See how light it is.

      [the top collapses]

      Gennady Soloviev: There you go. The animal is trapped. This is how I disarm the trap.

      [lifting the top back up]

      Gennady Soloviev: I take away the bait. I remove the wooden linchpin so squirrels or mice don't steal them. I put everything under the roof, and that's it.

    • Connections
      Edited from Schastlivyye lyudi (2007)

    User reviews27

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Honest life of honest people
    Saw this one a couple of years ago and was really stunned with the quality of this documentary.

    Movie crew lived through a year in Bakhta, small simple village of huntsmen and fishermen in Siberia, and they have done an amazing job of showing how simple life, hard (you bet) labour and everlasting circle of life make people... pure. Happy.

    There's not a hint of falseness, no pathos, no complaints. And that's probably what got to me the most: perfect documentary, no opinion imposed, just showing this life 'as is' - and the clarity of it strikes you, urban people, deep to the core.

    Must see, really.
    helpful•57
    1
    • volod
    • Jan 9, 2013

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Happy People: A Year in the Taiga?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 15, 2012 (Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • Germany
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Lyckliga människor
    • Filming locations
      • Bakhta Village, Siberia, Russia
    • Production company
      • Studio Babelsberg
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $338,987
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $10,481
      • Jan 27, 2013
    • Gross worldwide
      • $338,987
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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