like state.
LONG WAY NORTH
Director: Remi Chaye
Cast: Christa Theret, Feodor Atkine, Peter Hudson, Antony Hickling, Tom Morton, Vivienne Vernes
Rating: (PG)
Four and a half stars (out of five)
In this animated film set in 1882 Czarist Russia, 15-year-old Sasha (Christa Theret) is supposed to be looking forward to her first ball, but is more concerned with the fate of her grandfather, missing polar explorer Oloukine (Feodor Atkine).
He set off in the Davai, the pride of the Russian fleet, determined to plant the Russian flag at the North Pole and nothing has been heard of him since, despite numerous searches.
The ball proves to be a disaster and Sasha runs away, certain only she can find her grandfather.
Up north, Sasha finds things are very different from her aristocratic home in St Petersburg, but she proves a quick study. While working in a local inn, she persuades a fishing crew that her idea of where her grandfather went is worth looking into.
Everyone knows a woman on a sailing vessel is bad luck, but the crew overlooks the superstition because the Czar is offering a million rouble reward for finding
the Davai.
As Sasha and her new mates begin their dangerous journey through the sea-ice, things become increasingly enthralling.
With each fresh calamity we begin to wonder if Sasha has sent everyone to their doom on a fool’s errand; was her flash of intuition was merely wishful thinking?
- Christine Powley
