Creative Quotient
Based on a short story by Sarah Maitland, British director of Indian origin Asif Kapadia’s latest directorial venture revolves around two women - Saiva (Yeoh) and Anja (Krusiec) who have made the desolate terrains of the Arctic Tundra their home. Constantly moving into the far north and fleeing from human contact after Saiva’s family was decimated by marauders, the duo’s bare but self-sufficient functional existence is set asunder when they encounter a lost male traveller Loki (Bean). Finding him in an almost sick, dying state, Saiva nurses him back to health and life, but it’s the younger Anja that Loki falls for. The sexual tension between the two ladies over the man is achingly portrayed and convincingly developed as it leads to the film’s disturbingly violent climax that is precipitated by Anja’s decision to return to human civilisation and a normal family life with her new-found love Loki.
Technical Expertise
Shot over four years in the harsh Arctic Tundra, the film makes for some of the most breathtaking visuals ever seen from the earth’s vast northern frozen landscapes. Director Asif Kapadia whose debut film The Warrior beautifully captured the mountain terrain of Ladakh, accentuates the barrenness of the hilly and cold Arctic terrain to that of a character that identifies and echoes the lonely existence of its protagonists. The performances are first-rate, but it’s Yeoh who makes the maximum impact with her calm brutality and vicious steel rarely seen or expected of a woman. Credit goes to her for convincingly pulling off some skin-curdling scenes of blood and gore with shocking calm. Bean as the object of affection is effective and gets to do the buff act again. However, the film does seem to drag at times and could have done with a sharper edit.
Verdict
A dark, but gripping human story that’s beautifully shot in some never-seen-before locations. However, it’s shot to precision scenes of killing (of both men and animals) and the attendant blood splash may not go well with women and young audiences.