Polaris

This is a really well made movie with beautiful scenery and skilled direction. However, if you like movies to do all the thinking for you, it's probably not for you.

The story blends sci-fi, folklore spirituality and metaphor which will challenge a lot of people, but reminds me of the old 70's style mind benders like Zardoz and THX 1138. A lot of Mad Max vibes as well.

The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where survivors have regressed socially, but are still surrounded with remnants of past advanced civilisation. The heroine has spiritual powers connected to nature and follows a path to her destiny which brings her into contact with good and bad survivors.

Approach it as a tribal folk tale and you will probably enjoy it. But if you expect a modern paint-by-numbers Hollywood movie, you will be disappointed.

Overall summary: This movie takes on more the role of a fantasy folk tale than post apocalyptic sci fi. Be warned ahead of time the plot will make no sense whatsoever.

This film consists of excellent cinematography in what was likely one of the most uncomfortably cold film "sets" ever devised: solid snow, all the time. One has to wonder how the actors survived, much less the fictional characters.

The actors do a good job, considering what little "plot" they had to work with. The cinematography was good... but that does not of itself make a good movie.

What this movie completely lacks is any semblance of comprehensible story whatsoever, and throws in a considerable amount of blood and gore as topping. Agreed it is a movie about survival: kill or be killed. But the cause and need for such is completely invalidated by a ton of questions unanswered, and an ending that makes absolutely. No. Sense. Whatsoever. Why trudge through that excessive gore for no purpose or any semblance of resolution?

Non-spoiler questions: How was the girl raised by a polar bear? Where did she get her tailor-made fur clothing? (Is the polar bear a master seamstress?) Why was an old woman supplying diesel fuel out of a barrel in the middle of nowhere... and where did she get it to start with? Why in the world did the old woman... never mind. The list goes on and on.

The main question, which goes completely unanswered, is "What / why / where / whattheblazes is Polaris and how does it figure into all this nonsense?" If you believe you will be able to watch this film and figure out the answer to that question, you will be sorely disappointed.

If you decide to give this one a skip, you may be confident you won't miss anything special. I have a feeling the majority of positive reviews are plants from staff and family. While the main actress and her two friends do an admirable job of portraying their parts, those parts go nowhere.

I have to consider the few 9 and 10 star ratings a sham. This is another one of those, "Let the audience make of it what they will" films. If I wanted to do that, I'd write my own story... and it would be a lot better than the non-existent plot of this film. Whatever the director had in mind, it definitely doesn't come across to the audience.

First scene, we meet Sumi and Mama Polar Bear. The narrator fills in the details of Sumi's young life thus far. She was raised by the bear on the frozen lands of the arctic/Canadian? Area. I was most impressed that evidently either Mama is magical or Sumi was able to kill some furred animal and make not only pants, shirt, coat, and mittens, but also mukluks! She also has magic hair. If we assume she is 14 or 15ish and was raised from babyhood by the bear, and unless she also forged a knife or scissors and cut her own hair, it should be dragging on the ground. I grew my hair from pixie to mid back in less than 3 years and I have the hair of a 65 year old! I saw this movie won awards and wondered how. The girl did, she is quite talented. I'm 29 minutes into an 89 minute movie. I need a stiff drink.

The movie itself deserves a big ole raspberry. Very little dialogue, which is not a bad thing. But those few lines uttered all sounded like they were just the same words, over and over, no matter the situation. I guess in 2144 (how they came up with that particular year is a mystery) one word has a lot of different meanings; kind of like how the Inuits have a bunch of different words for snow.

Sound track: whale recordings for trees, Star Wars scooter things sounds for modified snow mobiles.

Made it to the end. It made no sense. Gory, stark and arty. No backstory on Sumi and how she ended up alone in Canada with a Polar Bear for a mom, no clue where ice girl in her futuristic outfit came from. Are there no more men? Nary a one in this movie.

Skip this flick unless it's absolutely the only thing aired. My biggest regret is not the waste of time, but not getting hammered first. If I did ganja that might have helped, too.

The boldness and originality of vision blew me away. This is movie-magic... a fantastical ride that propels the imagination. For me the film's emphasis on empathy (yes, even with the bloodshed) intuition, and connection with Nature, make it standout. I think the filmmaker created an original female centred story world and put characters and story themes on screen that feel wildly relevant and unique. I get the "Mad Max" reference, but it also reminds me of a French film, "The Bear" (1980s) and the Japanese anime "Princess Mononoke". Can't wait to see what this team does next... I'm hoping for a sequel and/or a prequel...

"Set in 2144 against the harsh backdrop of a subarctic wasteland, SUMI, a human child raised by MAMA POLAR BEAR, narrowly escapes capture from a brutal MORAD hunting party and sets out across the vast winter landscape. When Sumi stumbles across FROZEN GIRL, an unlikely friendship is forged and together they race ahead of the vindictive hunters towards the only guiding light Sumi knows, the POLARIS star."

7.5/10

I have to admit this kind of film is not my usual cup of tea, BUT this is what I love about Sitges, having the chance to explore new territories. This is a bold and expertly crafted picture, with a strong lead child performance, so it deserves at least an extra half star for the effort. And I loved the made-up language!