Coming to theatres this Friday, November 28: ANTARCTICA: A YEAR ON ICE
Anthony Powell’s chronicle of polar living made its bow at the New Zealand International Film Festival last year, winning the prize for best doc cinematography. It has gone on to screen at Calgary, Anchorage, Cleveland, and Thin Line.
In a project that took a decade to complete, Powell trains his specially-made cameras on the least hospitable part of the world, filming inhabitants of the McMurdo scientific research station on Antarctica’s Ross Island. McMurdo is one of several international scientific installations, with a combined population totaling about 5000, though fewer than 700 remain throughout the harsh Winter months. A diverse cross-section of these intrepid individuals, representing scientists, technicians, support staff, and service workers, who make their home in the pristine polar environment. It takes a certain type of personality to seek out this kind of life experience, so it’s not surprising that many of Powell’s subjects have an endearing element of quirkiness about them, though even that can give way during the punishing total darkness and monotony of Winter. Powell’s beautifully lensed film expertly conveys a sense of the wonder and beauty of the setting, particularly in stunning time-lapse footage, creating a fascinating portrait of a unique place and of its temporary caretakers.
what (not) to doc 