51º South was born within a dimly lit pub in Chicago, out of sincere admiration and respect for a tiny rural island culture at the bottom of the globe. It was felt, with the upcoming anniversary of the Falklands War, with all the rhetoric and the saber rattling, that the voices of the islands were not being heard. So two young gentlemen: friends, colleagues and filmmakers, packed the back of their Land Rover Defender and set out on a journey that would span over 7,000 miles to change that.
The goal of their endeavor was simple, and yet had never successfully been done before: to tell original, personal stories of the Falkland Islands from an inside perspective. The collaboration, by Jamie Gallant and Vern Cummins, set out to chronicle the daily lives of individuals who construct the patchwork of this truly unique culture. A culture that, no matter how small, challenging or remote its existence may be, commands the attention of nations around the globe.
This is the Falklands, the heart races. Survey the horizons and take a breath. There is a stirring in the sea, redemption in the hills. Relentless winds leave a salted taste of complexity that is at times indescribable, undefinable and yet utterly exhilarating. Moments of stillness will come. Like that peaceful moment when the springboard suddenly pushes back. It feels good and you dive in.