This week we’re coming down the homestretch of the A-to-Z Part Deux challenge with the letter “V”. For the letter “V” we have Vorawee Theerasilp (Translator) and the movie that Vorawee worked as a translator on that we’re reviewing today…Arctic (2018).
Title: Arctic
Director: Joe Penna
Released: May 10, 2018 (premiere at Cannes), February 1, 2019 (released in theaters)
Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes
Available to stream on: Kanopy and Netflix
Overgård (Mads Mikkelsen) is doing everything he can to survive. His plane has crashed in the Arctic Circle and he’s living in the fuselage awaiting rescue. His days are spent ice fishing for food, trying to keep said fish out of the grasp of polar bears, and running a distress beacon hoping a search and rescue team will locate him.
A helicopter appears to be responding to Overgård’s distress beacon one day but falls victim to the weather and crashes when attempting to land. The pilot is killed in the crash, but the other passenger (Maria Thelma) is alive, unconscious and severely injured but alive.
Overgård tends to her wound and gets her situated in his plane while he goes to explore the helicopter wreckage. While there he finds supplies, the woman’s ID, and a picture of her family that he brings back for her. He continues to feed and tend to her, but her condition is not improving. Overgård makes the difficult decision to embark on a trek to a refuge, with the wounded passenger in tow, that is a few days away.
With limited resources, will Overgård be able to get the passenger to medical assistance?
Will Overgård himself be able to survive the trek?
Well, another week brings with it another movie with a very straightforward and lean plot. This is not a complaint by any means, I love a movie that doesn’t waste a lot of time with fluff. Instead, you know exactly what you’re in for and you buckle up for the ride.
After finishing Arctic (2018), it’s confirmed that I could watch Mads Mikkelsen watch the grass grow and be entertained. With there being so little dialogue, it fell on Mads to carry this movie through facial expressions and movements. Spoiler alert, he passed that test with flying colors. Much like Tom Hanks did in Cast Away, Mads had me captivated the entire time despite barely saying anything. You can see and feel the pain, anguish, and hopelessness that Overgård is going through. So much so, that you become emotionally invested in his outcome and well-being.
The beautiful cinematography from Tómas Örn Tómasson drives home just how alone Overgård and the passenger are in the Arctic Circle. Meanwhile, the music from Joseph Trapanese wonderfully twists that emotional knife a little deeper into you each time you hear it.
If you are a fan of Mads Mikkelsen, go watch this movie.
If you are a fan of survival movies, go watch this movie.
Shoot, even if you’ve already seen it, here’s your recommendation to go and watch Arctic (2018) again.
So, there are my thoughts, but what are yours?
Tell me what you thought of Arctic (2018) in the comments below or on social media!
Keep an eye on Bluesky and Threads/Instagram this Wednesday for a preview of what’s coming next Sunday for the letter “W”.
As always, you can see what else I’ve been watching over on Letterboxd.