Antarctica

Original title: Nankyoku monogatari

1983
G
2h 23m

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

1.8K

YOUR RATING

Two Japanese scientists, Ushioda and Ochi, develop a bond with their sled dogs while on an expedition in Antarctica. They eventually leave Antarctica, only to return to search for the dogs inadvertently marooned there.

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Adventure Drama

Two Japanese scientists, Ushioda and Ochi, develop a bond with their sled dogs while on an expedition in Antarctica. Ushioda and Ochi eventually leave Antarctica, only to return to search fo... Read allTwo Japanese scientists, Ushioda and Ochi, develop a bond with their sled dogs while on an expedition in Antarctica. Ushioda and Ochi eventually leave Antarctica, only to return to search for the dogs inadvertently marooned there.Two Japanese scientists, Ushioda and Ochi, develop a bond with their sled dogs while on an expedition in Antarctica. Ushioda and Ochi eventually leave Antarctica, only to return to search for the dogs inadvertently marooned there.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

1.8K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins & 5 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 2:24

Trailer

Photos21

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9:57

Storyline

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Trivia
It was a big cinema hit, and held the Japanese box office record for a domestic film until it was surpassed by Hayao Miyazaki's Princesse Mononoké (1997) .

Quotes
Girl with Riki: Riki was raised on Kio island. Once winter gets there, the dogs would be left on the island. But people will come back for the winter. The dogs would have to go and find food for themselves. They would survive. Therefore Riki must be surviving on his own also. Because he is a diligent dog. Even if he can survive on Kio by himself, you can't compare Kio with Antarctica. I think so.
Akira Ushioda: It's impossible for all of them to survive. However, recently I've felt that a few of them might be able to survive. That's what I think.
Girl with Riki: But the temperature in Antarctica gets to forty below. Even fifty.
Akira Ushioda: Karafuto dogs can withstand cold weather very well.
Girl with Riki: Riki will probably find food on his own.
Akira Ushioda: I hope so.
Girl with Riki: That's encouraging.
Akira Ushioda: Up till now, I've still been regretting that we didn't kill the dogs. But that would be wrong. Because that's not the way life is supposed to be. All lives are equal. No one has the right to end the lives of those dogs. It took me such a long time to understand that.

Connections
Referenced in Meikingu obu 'Nankyoku monogatari' (1983)

Soundtracks
Ai no ôrora
Music by Tetsuji Hayashi
Lyrics by Tokiko Iwatani
Performed by Keiko Oginome
Courtesy of Canyon Records

User reviews23

Featured review

well worth watching

I accidently stumbled upon this movie and was immediately ensconced in its story line, scenery and cast of characters (primarily the dogs). The subtitles did not distract from the films Japanese dialogue. This semi-documentary style added authenticity to the fact based plot. The human actors may have been the catalyst for this poignant retelling, but the dogs were indeed the glue that held this film together. Given the fact that most of the sets were filmed on location, the dogs performed exceptionally well and held this viewer fast.

The misadventures that the dogs endured during their separation from their owners were deeply touching and powerful. One would have to have ice water flowing through one's veins to be unmoved from this film. Although hard to find, I heartily recommend the movie for age groups of 12 or older. The violence is implied rather than portrayed but none-the-less quite intense.