If you find yourself feeling impatient at the slow, meditative opening scenes of “The Spectacle,” just wait. The short documentary from The New Yorker visits a slew of stunning vistas primarily across Norway, showcasing star-dappled night skies and awe-inspiring mountaintop views. We’re witness to landscapes that appear untouched by humanity, until director Yasmin van Dorp plops us down amidst hordes of tourists.
What was a serene environment is suddenly a chaotic display of phones and cameras. A parent attempts to coax their child out atop the famous Norwegian boulder Kjeragbolten for a photo, assistants fluff formal gowns so their wearer appears windswept, and selfie sticks and drone controls abound. Van Dorp puts the contemporary tourism industry in full focus, confronting viewers with our inability to be present and the strange desire to see some of the world’s most spectacular sights filtered through a tiny screen.
