Rated: M
Directed by: Joe Penna
Written by: Joe Penna, Ryan Morrison
Produced by: Christopher Lemole, Tim Zajaros, Noah C. Haeussner
Composed by: Joseph Trapanese
Cinematographer: Tómas Ӧrn Tómasson
Starring: Mads Mikelsen, Maria Thelma Smáradóttir.
2018 Cannes Film Festival Official Selection – Midnight Section
Stranded in endless white snow punctuated by black rock, we see a man stranded.
Chains on the soles of thick rubber boots, scarf over mouth, beanie over head: eyes squint against the cold.
The beep from his watch is an alarm, marking the passing of one task to another – a methodical schedule to stay alive.
‘They’ll be here soon,’ he keeps saying.
‘We’ll be fine.’
There’s no introduction to this character. All that’s revealed is he’s stranded, waiting for rescue because near the wreck of a small plane, he’s dug in the snow an: SOS.
The film reveals who he is by showing how he survives.
The film was shot in the highlands of Iceland during the winter – a lone surviver surrounded by virgin snow had its challenges, states cinematographer Tómas Ӧrn Tómasson.
Yet with all the difficulties of snow storms, car doors becoming unhinged in the wild wind and the unpredictability and change of weather, director Joe Penna has created a quietly moving film, using the wind, exerted breathing and touches of orchestral music (Joseph Trapanese) to expand the feeling of isolation and suspense as the character waits.
They’ll be here soon.
We’ll be fine.
When he realises he’s going to have to move, to find his rescue when a chopper finally finds him, only to crash-land because of a storm, the tension rises.
With all that quiet, there’s these perfectly timed moments that made me jump.
It’s not just the endurance of survival but all those things that can go wrong, because that’s life, right?!
Sometimes it’s so bad it’s funny
And this character gets it. He can laugh… With tears in his eyes…
Mads is great in this role. And a very likeable character. A quiet strength was needed here – not an action hero, yet heroic for all his humanity. He’s a relatable character shown in movement and expression because this is a film with very few words.
And I couldn’t look away.