Brazilian Director Joe Penna's ARTIC Is a Chilling True Story of Survival Filmed with Few Words

"Arctic" is a movie of man v. nature under extreme elements and how driven is the instinct to survive.  Brazilian musician & filmmaker Joe Penn (b. 1987) chose the frozen tundra of the arctic to make his film debut.  Based on the true story of crashed pilot/Artic explorer Overgard (Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen) pitted against uninhabitable weather, the harshest environment who must resort to his cunning, limited supplies/equipment & indomitable spirit to remain alive until rescued.  Icelandic actress Maria Smaradottir is making her feature film debut.  Maria plays a critically injured helicopter co-pilot.  Their chopper crashes in a fatal attempt to rescue Overgard.  Maria's dialogue is minimal. She's gravely wounded & mostly unconscious.  Her chopper co-pilot was killed in the harrowing rescue attempt during hazardous weather conditions.  This true story is filmed on location on the Icelandic glacier.  The National Geographic looking cinematography by Tomas Tomasson (b Iceland)  is breathtakingly brutal, viscerally bone chilling and completely immersive.   We rejoice at Overgard's resourcefulness, admire his tenancity & empathize with his desolate & desperate situation.  When the rescue helicopter crashes, Overgard transfers Maria back to the shell of his downed plane and cares for her with such tenderness it could melt a glacier.  It becomes obvious Maria will die if she doesn't receive medical attention soon so he forges an intrepid trek across the frozen wasteland.  The film warrants being viewed on the big screen to enhance a virtual experience of this thrilling and terrifying journey.  The shocking encounter with a polar bear and a fall into unforeseen cavern are remarkable.  Skepticism can be directed to Mads' facial features & hands for not sustaining sufficient damage from the elements.  I'd chip away at the scoring of the film which causes a fissure from reality, especially owing to Penn's musical success.   Despite these minor setbacks, "Arctic" is film that leaves one awed of the natural landscape and thawed by the strength of humanity.  I urge you to see this incredible film - only don't go alone.