The North: An Exclusive Interview with Director and Producer Bart Schrijver
Action! Magazine sits down with the Dutch filmmaker to discuss the making of his reflective feature, and our review of this stunning journey through friendship and self-discovery.
In The North Dutch filmmaker Bart Schrijver takes audiences on a deeply personal and visually striking journey through the Scottish wilderness, a story that explores both friendship and self-discovery. Blending fiction with real-life inspiration, the film follows two estranged friends who reconnect by embarking on a 600-kilometer hike, rediscovering themselves along the way. Action! Magazine had the pleasure of speaking with Schrijver about the making of The North, a project rooted in his own experiences hiking across New Zealand and his reflections on growth, human connection, and the passage of time. Through raw performances, natural soundscapes, and breathtaking landscapes, The North captures the quiet beauty of introspection and the healing power of nature.
At its core, The North follows Chris (Bart Harder) and Lluis (Carles Pulido), two friends in their early thirties who were once inseparable during their college years but have since grown apart. A decade later, they decide to reconnect by embarking on a 600-kilometer hike through the rugged landscapes of Scotland. What begins as a simple reunion quickly evolves into a profound journey of self-reflection and renewal. As they navigate the vast wilderness, the film subtly captures their shared silences, moments of tension, and the rediscovery of what once bound them together. Through its naturalistic storytelling, The North explores the fragility of friendship, the quiet persistence of time, and the search for meaning amid everyday life.
”The route and the place that we’re walking are so much. It guides the whole story and the whole principle. I needed to have seen everything before writing the script,” Schrijver said.
Schrijver drew inspiration for the film from his own transformative 3,000-kilometer trek across New Zealand between 2017, using diary entries and personal reflections to shape the story. Both characters embody facets of his experience. Chris, trapped by the structure and monotony of his life, and Lluis, restless and defiant, convinced that the world is against him. Their contrasting perspectives reflect the inner conflicts many face when confronting adulthood, change, and self-perception. Through their dynamic, Schrijver offers a raw, honest portrayal of how relationships evolve and how, sometimes, we must lose ourselves to find our way back.
“In 2017, a friend and I hiked through New Zealand, and that was a big inspiration for the story. It’s not so much the things they’re struggling with, but how they interact with each other,” Schrijver said.
During the outdoor filming process, Bart Schrijver faced several challenges. One of the main issues was the logistical complexity of carrying equipment while hiking. With a small crew of about six to eight people, they needed to ensure that all gear was lightweight and durable, which significantly influenced their planning and shooting process. They used the RED Komodo camera along with the Ronin stabilizer. With a budget of €75,000, funded through small companies, loans, and crowdfunding, they managed to create a masterpiece set against beautiful landscapes as they traveled together to bring this story to life. They also produced a documentary showcasing behind-the-scenes moments, which serves as a memorable keepsake they can revisit.
For this film, they expanded the concept by hiring an additional camera operator specifically to document the behind-the-scenes process. Bart noted that having this second camera ensured they could capture both the film’s narrative and its production simultaneously. He expressed that this approach was not only practical but also enjoyable, as it provided a “holiday video” perspective of their experiences during filming, making it a fun retrospective for the crew.
“We want to keep doing behind-the-scenes documentaries because it’s not just useful for marketing, it’s a way to capture our journey and growth as filmmakers,” Schrijver said.
Bart mentioned that they did not use traditional setups like call sheets because everyone was in close proximity, often in the same tent, which made the filming environment unconventional. He highlighted difficulties with battery management, as they could not carry many batteries due to their weight and had to conserve battery life, effectively forcing them to limit the number of takes.
“We ended up shooting as if we were shooting on film. when we put the camera on, we needed to shoot. We cannot do 20 takes,” Schrijver said.
Weather conditions also posed significant challenges. Bart described moments when strong winds made filming difficult, particularly affecting their stabilization equipment. They had to adapt their shooting plans to the weather and natural environment, which required quick thinking and flexibility.
The North has a beautifully slow pace, allowing us to sit with the characters and truly experience the moments and emotions. Bart explained that instead of filming a 10-second shot, he extended it to 2 minutes, which allowed the audience to feel the journey.
“If I put it on there for two minutes, maybe you’ll get a sense of, ‘Oh, this is taking really long,’ but that’s also the essence of it,” Schrijver said.
Sound is a powerful element in every film, and The North truly excelled in its use of sound. Natural sounds and occasional silence were the only audio elements present, allowing the characters’ dialogue to resonate in a raw, naturalistic way that felt almost too real. The film’s sound design brought us closer to the characters and their experiences. It is truly unique to see how the outdoor environment influenced the filmmaking approach and how that effect extends to the audience. Bart wanted viewers to feel as if they were immersed in the environment, and while watching The North, you can genuinely experience that immersion.
“There’s no music in nature. The sound puts you in the location,” Schrijver said.
The locations chosen for the film are integral to the storytelling. Bart emphasized the importance of the natural setting, which mirrors the emotional landscape of the characters. The vast, untamed beauty of Scotland contrasts with the characters’ internal conflicts, creating a rich atmosphere that enhances the overall narrative. Bart explained that the route and places they walked guided the story.
“I wanted to create a sense of realism in the film where the landscape not only enhances the story but also becomes a character in its own,” Schrijver said.
The North is more than just a film, it is an immersive experience that invites viewers to slow down and reflect. Through Bart Schrijver’s poetic direction, the film captures the essence of being present, confronting inner struggles, and reconnecting with what truly matters. Its minimalist approach to sound, pacing, and cinematography transforms each scene into a meditation on life’s simplest yet most profound moments. As Bart and his small crew braved the unpredictable outdoors to tell this story, they created something both intimate and expansive, a reminder that the most transformative journeys often occur far from comfort, guided only by friendship, silence, and the open road.
Click here to watch the trailer: Trailer
Click here to follow The North on Instagram: The North Instagram
Click here to watch their behind-the-scenes documentary True North : True North Documentary
The full interview with Bart Schrijver will be available on ACTION! Magazine The Podcast on Wednesday November 5th.
Written by Victoria Arruda
Editor-in-Chief, ACTION! Magazine