Inuit

Terrific cast and subtle direction from Martin makes for an emotional journey in Canada's high arctic. I was quite impressed with the casting, especially the lead Inuit girl. In many ways, the partnership of Pepper and the young Innu girl elevate this film above the standard plot.

Its unexpected poignancy in dealing with spiritual matters and the theme of redemption of Charlie Halliday's special blend of charm and arrogance deserves special mention.

It would have been easy for this film to degenerate into melodrama, but the cast and director continue striving towards offering the audience mature and interesting choices.

Score was a titch "movie-lite", but that is a small quibble. Kudos to entire production for bringing this astonishing vision to fruition.

I just finished watching this film and it was absoloutly gorgeous. The vastness and emptiness of the arctic tundra is so foreign in this day and age of big cities and suburbs, it was just refreshing to watch. Barry Pepper has never been a good actor in my mind, but this film shows his real potential, he made the character of Charlie a believable one, and the change he experiences didn't come off as clichéd like in so many other movies. The young Inuit girl who played Kanalaaq(sp) was so impressive, more so when you learn she can do many of the things her character in the film did!!! She is very beautiful and talented and i can't wait to see where this takes her!

The directing is very good as well. The idea to use as little music as possible adds to the feeling of isolation and barreness of the arctic, and the shots of the sky especially the Northern Lights were gorgeous!!

All in all i loved this film ***/5

The Snow Walker, following the Farley Mowat book 'Walk Well My Brother' introduces the characters Charlie Halliday, a self-absorbed pilot (played by Barry Pepper) and Kanaalaq, a quiet, resourceful Inuit girl (played by Annabella Piugattuk). The film is directed by Charles Martin Smith, the man who played the main character in Farley Mowat's 'Never Cry Wolf' which must have inspired him to translate this Mowat book into another film. The movie is exceptionally well made, especially considering its low 10 million CDN budget. The camera is well controlled, and the beautiful scenery is captured as well as in any film. Barry Pepper is, as always, a natural talent. He takes the arrogant Charlie on a journey not only of Canada's Northwest Territories, but of character development. Annabella Piugattuk is wonderful as the succinct Inuit girl. Despite language barriers, the two characters manage to communicate well enough, and their relationship blossoms in a fascinating way. You'll find this film exciting, and it is much more entertaining than you'd expect. My only wish was that the film's conclusion was extended; I wanted to see more. I look forward to both Charles Martin Smith and Barry Pepper's next efforts. 9/10

I hired 'Wimbledon' but upon opening the case there was the wrong disc. Instead it was this film called 'The Snow Walker'. Had full intentions of taking it straight back to the video store but it was late at night and figured I'd just put it on while I did something else.

I found myself fully engrossed in this film. It was such a nice simple story that's been wonderfully acted. Some of the scenery was nice and what was there was very well shot. Good use of what was available. The music really fit the film well.

Sometimes the films that we have no intention of watching turn out to be nice little surprises.

We meet Charlie Halliday, a young bush pilot, as he and his friends are spending a night of drinking and just having fun. Halliday, and his friends, are mean toward one Inuit man that comes to the tavern trying to sell them a little animal skin. Little prepares this young man for what happens to him the following day.

Director Charles Martin Smith does wonders in this movie. The action takes us all over the Canadian arctic tundra. The director, and his cinematographers, captured in all its glory this part of the vast country most of us will never see. This movie celebrates the human instinct of survival and deals with how Halliday, a man who clearly shows his disdain toward the Inuit, at the beginning of the film, has to depend on a young girl that shows him a thing or two about how to survive in that hostile climate.

Barry Pepper surprises us in the film in the way he portrays Halliday. We see the transformation, for the better, as he realizes how his salvation depends on Kanaalaq. Annabella Pingattuk, who plays the young Inuit girl is an asset in the film. James Cromwell is seen as Shepherd, the man in charge of the pilots.

"The Snow Walker" shows a lesson in acceptance, and endurance when all hope is lost by a person. Thanks to Charles Martin Smith and his collaborators for a satisfying film.