Map of the Human Heart

This movie came highly recommended to me; but outstripped all expectations. Outstanding acting, especially from the little boy Eskimo, then from Jason, as the adult character/pilot for the RAF. Absolutely beautiful cinematography; a story that kicks the heart strings in many ways -- kicks and tickles, too, a few times. How about making love on top of a blimp/buzz-bomb decoy? Tastefully done, naturally; but gives you the idea of the style and flavor of this love/war/human condition gem. Lots of wild aerial stuff, all through, nicely woven throughout the tale. Might want to bring your parachute to the theatre... Oh, did I mention a vertiginous scene inside high up in the Albert Hall, a tryst? Snowmobiles and French beauties, etc. Formidable. Like the fire at the end of "Gone with the Wind?" Might want to see the flames in this one, too.

I found this to be one of the most romantic movies I've ever seen. It tells the story of Avik, a young Eskimo boy who meets Walter Russell (Patrick Bergin) when Walter comes to map his village. Avik discovers he has Tuberculosis, and Walter takes the young boy to Montreal where he stays at a Catholic hospital. There he meets Albertine, a young girl of mixed French Canadian and Indian blood. They grow attached to each other, in spite of the meddling of one of the nuns, played by Jeanne Moreau. Eventually, Avik and Albertine are separated. Avik returns to his village, and becomes a man. He finds he is ostracized by his fellow tribe, because he has lived too long among the white people.

Avik as an adult is played by Jason Scott Lee. By this time, Canada is involved in World War II, and Avik joins the Air Force and flies on bombing raids. He is reunited with Albertine (Anne Parillaud) in London, who is also in the military. Unfortunately, so is Walter Russell. And it seems that he and Albertine have met and become romantically involved. Avik does not want to interfere in the relationship, because Walter saved his life.

This is a story of two people who are truly in love, but whom the fates keep apart. An old theme, but with a new twist. I found it heart breaking and romantic. I loved the period portrayed. And the love scene atop the blimp is quite something! This film isn't for everyone, but if you like a good romantic tear jerker, this is for you.

Did you ever feel you "discovered" something or somebody: a real gem that none of your friends knew about? Well, that's the way I feel about this film, a real sleeper than few people have ever heard about. When they see it - at least the friends I've shown it to - they enjoy it, too. This is an excellent romance story that's quite different, quite touching and quite haunting. This is one of the few movies that actually cost me some sleep after I first saw it one evening.

The two main characters are "half-breeds," Avik (or "Holy Boy") is an Eskimo- white man and "Albertine," an Indian-French female. Both are well-played as kids and as adults. The filmmakers did an amazing job finding two kids who really look like the two adults probably would have looked like when they were young and with the same voice inflections and accents.

As adults Jason Scott Lee and Anne Parillaud are memorable. So is the cinematography, particularly the Dresden bombing scene which is simply jaw- dropping.

Warning: the movie is heart-wrenching at times with not a happy ending, but I think that helps make this film so memorable, so haunting. Even the music is haunting.

This is a strange, mystical movie. Either it's going to mean very little to you or it's going to be something special you'll want to see a number of times.

This film is one of the best romance films i have ever watched. At first I just watched it cause Jason Scott Lee was in it so I thought there was gonna be some butt whupin in it but as I watched on I realized that it wasn't that kind of movie. This is the tale of a good Inuit boy with nothing but good intentions and his love for his childhood sweetheart. He get's screwed over again and again by fate until finally he gets a chance to fulfil his wishes but fate intervenes yet again for the final time. This movie was very moving, very sad. The acting in it was superb and makes me wonder why Lee isn't a bigger star than he is. Through out the movie you can't help but feel bad for Avik. Poor guy. I just saw this movie, 2002 and I can't believe that I missed it until now. 9/10

This is a beautiful, thoughtful, heart-wrenching story. The cinematography of the film is artful and intimate, it feels like you are in the room, almost shamefully eavesdropping... the ending doesn't completely gel for me, the story line works, but I think it needs to be fleshed out a bit more. The ensemble performances are letter perfect, the subtleties and inner thoughts of these characters are crystal clear to the viewer, it's almost unnerving. The frantic energy of wartime life is captured beautifully, without being a trite war movie. It's just another layer of these characters reality, it doesn't overwhelm the story. Brandon Lee is beautiful in this role, very impressive performance. Great great story, I loved this movie!!!!