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Happy People | Spring (part 1) [Happy People Documentary | Spring in Siberia Part 1

Happy People | Spring (part 1) [Happy People Documentary | Spring in Siberia Part 1 on HackerTube: recommended by 4 Hacker News commenters across 5 separate months, 2015–2023.

Дмитрий Васюков

documentary · evergreen

Open on YouTube

The first part of Dmitry Vasyukov's four-part Russian documentary series about trappers and villagers living in the Siberian taiga. This episode follows spring life along the Yenisei, with hunting, fishing and subsistence in harsh surroundings.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Recommended as the authentic original that many prefer over Werner Herzog's shortened re-cut.

people recommended it
4
separate months
5
strong recommendations
2
discussed on HN
2015–2023
“I like the original much better, I think of it as the authentic view”
— virgulino, Jan 2023, in “Living Alone in the Wild Siberian Forest”

What HN commenters said

5 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.

virgulinoJan 2023Strongly recommends

Thank you. What Herzog did was re-edit and put his own narration on the original Russian Happy People, a 4-part documentary. I like the original much better, I think of it as the authentic view, while Herzog's version is the typical old German hippie looking at an alien world (and I love Herzog!). Still, I found it very interesting to see both versions. The original 4-part documentary, with English narration, is available on the original Russian director's YouTube channel: ▶ this video [link] [link] [link]

in “Living Alone in the Wild Siberian Forest” · View on HN

virgulinoJan 2021Strongly recommends

Herzog's documentary is just a new cut of the original Russian documentary, adding Herzog's old hippie narrative. The original version is fantastic, and much more authentic. Available on YouTube, with subtitles, on the director's own channel: ▶ this video [link] [link] [link]

in “Excess protein enabled dog domestication during severe Ice Age winters” · View on HN

nkurzSep 2022Recommends

I watched this, and enjoyed it, but was later surprised to learn that Herzog had started with a completed documentary but made major changes to the narrative---for the worse! There are few scenes that he edited to tell a different story than they did in the original, seemingly with minimal concern for truth. It really hurt my image of Herzog. So I'd second the recommendation, but add that if you get a chance, you should try to view Vasyukov's original as well. Herzog's version might be a bit snappier, but I don't think it's actually better. The original is available in four parts on Youtube. Here's part one: ▶ this video

in “Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?” · View on HN

wohlergehenNov 2017Recommends

If you enjoyed that, you might also enjoy Dmitry Vasyukov's "Happy People" documentary about the people living in the Siberian taiga. It's on youtube [1]. 1: ▶ this video

in “A Man Who Has Lived Alone on an Island for 28 Years” · View on HN

ak1394Sep 2015Recommends

There is a somewhat similar russian documentary about people leaving in the small settlements in Siberia: Happy People ▶ this video

in “Building a hut with a tiled roof, underfloor heating and mud and stone walls” · View on HN

Topics & tags

Documentaries & storytellingAnimals & natureWorld historysiberiatrappersrussiavasyukovsubsistence living