Examine legends about the origins and meaning of the aurora, the colorful glow in the night sky.

In Earth’s polar regions, the aurora—a ghostly flicker and colorful glow— mysteriously brightens the night sky. One of the most incredible natural phenomena in the world, the array of colors of the aurora is a source of endless theory and wonder. What creates such beauty and spectacle? The documentary links popular myths to the aurora’s physical effects on the natural world. For some tribes, it is the spirit of ancestors playing ball in the sky; for others, it’s a harbinger of war, plague and famine. The film visits Finland’s Saami, Alaska’s Inuit, Canada’s Native Americans and New Zealand’s Maori, each with legends of their own. The film travels the globe, incorporating scientific research and myth, to share with viewers the awe-inspiring mystery of the aurora.