Critically acclaimed emotional drama The North is set to reach UK cinemas on 24 April, following select previews across the country from 20 March.
From director Bart Schrijver (Human Nature, Memories Of You), the film reunites former best friends and once-roommates Chris (Bart Harder) and Lluis (Carles Pulido) as they meet again after a decade apart. Their destination isn’t a café catch-up or a carefully managed weekend away, but something far more demanding — and revealing: a 30-day hike across Scotland’s West Highland Way and Cape Wrath Trail.
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They’ve walked the route before, back when life was lighter, and their bond felt unbreakable. Now, with 350 miles of raw terrain ahead of them, the pair set out hoping the rhythm of the trail will do what time and distance have undone — rekindle a friendship that once defined them. But the Highlands offer no shortcuts. As the miles stretch on, the weather turns, and the path narrows into long silences, the trek becomes less about reaching the finish and more about what happens when you can’t outrun yourself.
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Chris remains tethered to the world he left behind — work, responsibilities, the persistent pull of home — while Lluis is driven by a single-minded need to complete the trail, determined to prove he still can. Along the way, chance encounters with other hikers and the relentless solitude of the route force both men to confront what’s changed, what’s been avoided, and what’s still worth salvaging. In The North, stillness isn’t empty; it’s confrontational. The film asks what it means to truly listen — to the land, to another person, and to the parts of yourself you’ve kept buried beneath busyness.
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Adding to the film’s emotional authenticity is the way it was made: The North was shot entirely on the route of the walk, and in chronological order. The result is immersive and immediate — a drama that doesn’t just show you the Highlands, but places you inside them. It’s a striking ode to friendship and the healing power of nature, and it may also be the definitive hiking film, allowing us to take in the stunning majesty of the Highlands shoulder-to-shoulder with Lluis and Chris as they reconnect with each other and with nature.
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Speaking on the UK cinema release, Jonny Tull, Founder of Tull Stories, said: “We’re delighted to bring The North to audiences in the UK and Ireland. For me, this is a story about embracing adventure and finding yourself in the heart of nature. It’s about stillness, and pausing for breath. This is something we could all do with right now. I can’t wait to see how audiences find spending time with Chris and Lluis, and walking that amazing route shoulder-to-shoulder with them.”
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Director Bart Schrijver echoed that sentiment, adding: “For me The North is almost a love letter to the Scottish Highlands. And for that reason I am really happy that the film will play in UK cinemas. While making the film, we really hiked 300 kilometres through the mountains, we camped, we slept in our tents, and in that way we experienced the Scottish outdoors. The best way to experience the outdoors, of course, is to be out there, but I hope we can give you that experience in the cinema as well. I hope that people will see how absolutely beautiful their country is. The first responses I get from people who have seen the film in previews and festivals in the UK are heartwarming. Together with Tull Stories, we are bringing the Scottish Highlands to your cinema this spring. I am excited and a bit nervous to find out what the people in the UK will think of our film!”
The North will be in UK cinemas from 24 April.
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Images provided by Strike Media
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