Zero Kelvin

Although that's not a bad thing, that is not exactly what the Kino Video release implies about the film. I was expecting some sort of exciting Arctic adventure story. Something fairly simple-minded, in other words.

Since expectation and actualization in this case are as different as snow and ice, it's a little difficult to assess the film fairly.

Suffice it to say that Stellan Skarsgård is unrecognizable as the foul-mouthed hunter. In Scandinavia, is he well known for his versatility? If he's not, he should be. Stellan is lousy in this film. I mean that literally. He's infested with lice. He's grubby. You would not want to be locked all winter in a claustrophobic room with him. His character is the heart of this drama.

This may not have been the Arctic adventure I was hoping for, but then it didn't leave me cold either.

The film was shot on the island of Spitzbergen (Svalbard in Norwegian), but I couldn't tell that I wasn't looking at Greenland.

The last credited performer, Tinkas Qorfiq, played the part of Jane, the dog, if I'm not mistaken.

As a squeamish woman who rather hates film violence, I have to say that Zero Kelvin was an exceptional film. Henrik Larsen is a struggling writer who wants "raw material" and subjects himself for a year with 2 experienced hunter-trappers. I agree with the other film reviewer that this is a "character study" but want to point out that it is not flat or dull by any means. There's plenty of action throughout. I don't think that Larsen's boss and nemesis, Randbaeck, is evil but "troubled", and this distinction gives a lot of credence to the true struggle and relationship between the two men.

Gard, a Norweigen poet signs up for for some trapper organisation in Greenland. Assumingly looking for adventures and possible material for his writing. In Greenland things slowly starts to turn ugly. His boss Randbaek is a unreasonable man that seems to have a need to bully someone. The only other person on the station is a calm scientist that only engages in a situation if he absolutely has to.

One of the best things about this film is the depth of Randebaks character. Despite him being really foul and wretched there is plenty of glimpses of a person with regret beneath this rubble. At times he and Gard accomplished some kind of frail peace and at tmies Randaek even seems to respect Gard. But before there, off-course, they have already exchanged to many blows...

Its a raw and powerful film. With the icy north creating a great backdrop for their escalating conflict. Wonderful atmosphere. Lots of humor. With all the actors turning in good performances ( and with Stellan Skarsgard being particularly awesome). The film is at heart a mini-dram (even though there ARE some action) and much of it takes place in a primitive cottage. In kinda reminded me of the likewise excellent Runnaway Train. Great entertaining thriller with a serious edge.

This film is not for everyone. It is a pretty dark and pessimistic story and leaves you thinking for a long time after you've watched it. I had to see it several times to really understand the difficult relationship between Randbaek and Larsen. All actors are superb and the pictures of the arctic landscape are stunning. More drama than adventure.

After watching so many bad or mediocre movies lately, it was a pleasure to watch Zero Kelvin. I thought that the film worked on many levels -the disparity of the soft urbanite lifestyle to that of harsh, wilderness survival, the difficulties of human relationships in close proximity, the varying philosophies of love and intimacy. The film contained soft polemics about love, bitter misogynist tirades, and brutality tempered with affection tempered with harsh reality.

I first saw Stellan Skarsgard in "Breaking the Waves" and thought he was excellent. Then I caught in him a few ho-hum movies, and thought, yeah , just another B-grade actor. But it seems this kind of movie is his forte, he was great, as were the other two actors.

Excellent film.