Despite a excellent cast, this is a dreadful film. It can't decide if it's a documentary, a docudrama or a fictional tale. This identity crisis infuses every scene with an uneven, unfocused quality.
It makes constant reference to Nome, but the setting is not at all like Nome; the people would not be inhabitants of Nome, and their reactions might be very different. Many may think this isn't germane to the film, but in fact the surroundings and the life style of the people represent an entirely different world. Why not say it happened in Ketchikan, Fairbanks, British Columbia? Or film it in some cold tundra like, well, Nome, or northern Finland? A film purporting to be documentary in any way should at least start out offering something resembling the real people and places.
The cast is talented and tries to deliver a fine performance, but they are blocked at every turn by the film's lack of identity and the poor editing and production values. The constant inter-cutting of 'archival footage' is distracting and comical.
Did this really happen? I went with an open mind, and was so thoroughly put off by the utter poor quality that I don't care anymore.
Save you money. There are other (good) films to watch.
It makes constant reference to Nome, but the setting is not at all like Nome; the people would not be inhabitants of Nome, and their reactions might be very different. Many may think this isn't germane to the film, but in fact the surroundings and the life style of the people represent an entirely different world. Why not say it happened in Ketchikan, Fairbanks, British Columbia? Or film it in some cold tundra like, well, Nome, or northern Finland? A film purporting to be documentary in any way should at least start out offering something resembling the real people and places.
The cast is talented and tries to deliver a fine performance, but they are blocked at every turn by the film's lack of identity and the poor editing and production values. The constant inter-cutting of 'archival footage' is distracting and comical.
Did this really happen? I went with an open mind, and was so thoroughly put off by the utter poor quality that I don't care anymore.
Save you money. There are other (good) films to watch.