Far North

In his remarkable debut feature, The Warrior, Asif Kapadia proved himself masterly at integrating the character of landscape into the core of his narrative. This ability is even more pronounced in Far North, a dark and tragic epic tale played out against the harsh beauty of the Arctic tundra.

Two women, Saiva and Anja, struggle to survive on the frozen wastes. They are forced further north to escape soldiers taking over their homeland and settle on a desolate island. One day a man, Loki, appears on the ice, and collapses, close to death. Despite her doubts, Savia takes him in and nurses him back to health. As he begins to recover, Loki settles in for the winter, but his presence disturbs the easy relationship between the two women...

Based on a short story by Sara Maitland, Far North has a folk-tale-like simplicity in its storytelling, and this works in absolute harmony with the purity of the awe-inspiring setting. The challenging filming conditions surely tested both cast and crew, but there is little indication of this onscreen, indeed the reverse is true. Location, character and dramatic tension seem effortlessly managed, marshalled to give us this timeless story of survival and revenge.

Sandra Hebron