New Article--A Personal Apocalypse in the Russian Arctic

[Patrick Carlson]

Welcome back to our regular series on survival “literature,” where we take a novel, a film, a game, etc. and frame it within the context of The Long Dark. In this entry I look at Alexei Popogrebsky’s 2010 film How I Ended This Summer. Set in the remote Russian arctic, it deals with the psychological tension that surfaces when trying to survive in one of the world’s most isolated places.

The film also makes an interesting argument about how intense a "personal apocalypse" can be, when an individual experiences this disaster in such a remote location. So beyond just recommending you check out this interesting recent film, I think the story parallels some of what we experience in The Long Dark.

When wandering the game's sandbox, does our isolation intensify feelings of vulnerability in the face of disaster, or does it add to our resolve to survive?

[Cherbear]

For me, it definitely intensifies the feeling of vulnerability. Especially when you are alone and waiting out a storm.... Need a pack of cards or something...

[Patrick Carlson]

Hi Cherbear, so how do you pass the time? Lately I find myself setting simple goals for myself in terms of organizing items, repairing. In the past I might has just slept. Also curious now if people change some of their habits now that they can see their stats.

[lolmuffin]

Wow. I might buy the book in Amazon. Thank you.

[foxtrotf]

There's "[shadow=blue]Nakhodka (2015)[/shadow]"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4176964/

http://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/843870/

a good one.

[Patrick Carlson]

Thanks for suggesting these. I'll definitely check them out!

--Patrick

[Soul Sojourner]

I'm sure somebody has mentioned the short story "To Build A Fire" by Jack London already at some point.

But just in case...

http://www.jacklondons.net/buildafire.html