Ice People: A Film Review

Antarctica, General, Lore, Legend & Stories, Nomadic Lifestyle

Just less than a year ago I did a review on Werner Herzog’s Antarctic documentary film. See it here: Encounters With Mediocre Cinema at the End of the World – or if you can’t be bothered reading that; my Cliff’s notes version of my own review is that I didn’t care too much for the film. It took me a great deal of courage to actually write that down – it seems that quite a few people in my peer group and in the world at large enjoyed the film more than I did. I think they just like it because they’re scared to not like something by such a typically brilliant filmmaker.

During the season that Herzog came to The Ice, another film crew was also present – a crew that actually wanted to be there and had to work to get to Antarctica. A crew that; when seeking funding was met with responses along the lines of “Isn’t Herzog filming in Antarctica this year?”. A crew that was led by documentary filmmaker Anne Aghion.

Antarcticans pay homage to Anne Aghion's film crew during the annual Halloween party - 2006

Anne’s Antarctic documentary is entitled Ice People and covers a wide spectrum of what it’s like to live and work at an Antarctic research station and field camp. In many ways the viewer may feel like they’re right there amongst the grittiness of McMurdo and conversely the majesty that is Antarctica; all the while imagining themselves exposed to the fierceness of the wind or the constant drone of a diesel engine somewhere in the background.

The greatest thing about this film is the same thing that is great about other Aghion films. It was completely devoid of her ego and became solely about the people and the social dynamics of life on the Ice.

Anne’s film-making style is a huge departure from the spoon-feeding that Hollywood film viewers may have come to expect. She challenges the viewer to take an active role in their own entertainment, likely leaving them less entertained but more enlightened as a result.

Want to know what it’s really like to live and work in Antarctica? You’ll probably have to get a job and go there yourself but the next closest thing to actually experiencing the harshest of continents for yourself is to watch Anne Aghion’s Ice People.

Check out the trailer:

Will @ May 21, 2009