njlionstorm

With all of the technical advances that are used in movie making today, I looked forward to watching "Eight Below", which unfortunately turned out to be a so-so Hollywood rip-off of the award-winning Japanese film, "Nankyoku Monogatari" (aka "Antarctica"). Disney turned a grim drama about abandonment and survival into bland, feel-good fluff for the masses, complete with an unnecessary romantic subplot, and equally unreal main character who is willing to singly go on a suicide mission to find his dogs.

What actually happened was this: while on expedition, two Japanese researchers, Ushioda and Ochi, released their two lead sled dogs (Taro and Jiro) in hopes that the dogs would understand that they had to seek out and bring back a rescue party. And that is just what the dogs did: they found the main base and led a rescue team in the nick of time to save to Ushioda and Ochi from certain death.

Afterwards, Ushioda and Ochi left behind 15 sled dogs for use by the people of the next scheduled expedition that was supposed to arrive the day after Ushioda and Ochi evacuated back to Japan. But the other expedition never arrived, having been cancelled. Ushioda and Ochi learned of this terrible turn of events after they arrived back in Japan, but could do nothing and had to wait a full year to participate in the next Antarctic expedition. In the meantime, seven dogs froze and/or starved to death while chained to the line. Six others broke free, but no one knew what fate became them because they were never found. Taro and Jiro survived to be rescued were: they were only dogs the men had not left chained to the line.

Those true events were faithfully and magnificently immortalized in Japanese filmmaker Koreyoshi Kurahara's 1983 "Nankyoku Monogatari" (a.k.a. "Antarctica"), (available only on VHS). Kurahara's film won top prize at the Japanese Academy of Film Awards and was Japan's 2nd highest grossing film-to-date. It was also nominated for top prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. The original is a "MUST SEE" for all animal/nature lovers and I hope will one day be released on DVD.

On April 2, 2005 I went to the "Cinema Croatia" film festival in Santa Monica to see DUGA MRACNA NOC. Goran Visnjic was there to introduce the movie. He explained that the movie is a distillation of scenes taken from the Croatian TV series, of the same name, that is presently airing in his homeland. He further explained that the 5 1/2-hour long, original director's cut, was edited down to the award winning (Pula Film festival), 3-hour theatrical release that was Croatia's official submission to the American Academy Awards best foreign film committee.

I enjoyed the film and think Goran Visnjic masterfully portrayed of Iva Kolar, and made the character so real that I was immediately drawn into the movie. Mr. Visnjic's talented use of body language and facial expression, as well as the particular way he delivers his lines, is nothing less than genius.

"DUGA MRACNA NOC" is an intense story about how friendship and personal loyalty can ultimately mitigate the ravages of intolerance, war, and political upheaval. Its message of personal honor and love of humanity is something any one can relate to, and learn from.

I am also following the progress of the TV series, "DUGA MRACNA NOC," now airing on HRT, via the detailed descriptions and dialog translations sent to me by a Croatian pen pal, as well as from watching video clips of the TV episodes that can be found at the Bleu Profond website (see miscellaneous links at IMDb's Goran Visnjic page). I look forward to obtaining the TV series as soon as it is published as a DVD or video.

Nancy Lion-Storm