Arctic (2018)

Directed by: Joe Penna | 98 minutes | adventure, drama | Actors: Mads Mikkelsen, Maria Thelma Smáradóttir

Man versus the elements, it remains a fascinating subject for many filmmakers. Whether it’s the unforgiving sea, as we saw in ‘All is Lost’ (2013) with Robert Redford, or the cutting cold – ‘The Revenant’ (2015), for example, is full of memorable scenes in which Leonardo DiCaprio takes hold – the battle against Mother Nature continues to fascinate us. The lead role in such a film demands a lot from the actor. He is often (strangely enough, they are almost always men) alone in the picture for at least three quarters of the film and the hardships leave their physical traces. Dialogues are usually sparse, so the actor has to put all the emotion into his body language and facial expressions. No wonder these types of reels always do well when prizes are awarded. DiCaprio finally got his well-deserved Oscar, but had to dig deep for it. Redford also earned a nomination for his physical attrition. Unfortunately, Mads Mikkelsen did not receive that honor for his role in ‘Arctic’ (2018), but the Danish actor certainly deserves recognition for his role as pilot H. Overgård stranded in the North Pole.

The director is Joe Penna, a Brazilian living in Los Angeles who has been making waves on YouTube since 2006 as ‘MysteryGuitarMan’. ‘Arctic’ is his first feature film. He worked with a largely Icelandic crew and can count himself lucky that the newly arrived Mikkelsen allowed himself to be roped in for the lead role. Overgård – what the H. stands for is not clear – crashed some time ago at the North Pole. Waiting and (probably against his better judgment) hoping for rescue, he has learned a certain routine. The wreckage of his plane serves as a home base, he satisfies his hunger with raw fish caught himself and at set times he tries to make contact with the outside world via a radio. He does some digging, investigates in hopes of finding a settlement, evades a hungry polar bear watching him, and tries as best he can by treating frosty toes that are dying. His prayers seem to have been answered when suddenly a helicopter comes his way. But a snow storm throws a spanner in the works and the plane crashes. The driver dies on the spot, his co-pilot (Maria Thelma Smáradóttir) is seriously injured. Overgård rescues her and takes her to his own plane to nurse her. There is not much improvement in her condition, because the woman only recovers sporadically, but for Overgård she is an extra stimulus to continue his struggle for survival. At the same time, she is an extra burden, especially since she is more dead than alive. Yet the intrepid Overgård does everything in his power to force a rescue.

Survival movies abound and basically “Arctic” tells nothing new under the sun. Penna made a very stripped-down and sober version of it, a film that works towards a ruthless end without frills. ‘Arctic’ shows how monotonous Overgård tries to get through his days. Daily routine in a stark white, desolate landscape; that can get boring and repetitive. Fortunately, there is the ever reliable Mads Mikkelsen, who knows how to captivate us without words from the first to the last minute. Overgård is surviving and we are surviving with him. We feel his rumbling stomach and tingling toes, his fear when the polar bear suddenly reappears, his disappointment when the rescue helicopter crashes to the ground, the frustration of every setback and the inner moral struggle he feels as he struggles with the question: do I take the injured woman and therefore the extra ballast or do I leave her here to increase my own chances of survival? Mikkelsen is a beacon of humanity on the rock-hard polar plain.

‘Arctic’ is a creditable debut by Joe Penna, who aptly captures the coldness, desolation and implacability of the North Pole. If he manages to get another born actor like Mikkelsen for the lead role for his next film, then this talented Brazilian will be fine.