Il richiamo del grande nord

The box has the words "family" stomped all over it, so the happy outcome is never in doubt.

What makes this adventure movie interesting is the very clearly drawn characters of the two 15-year old protagonists.

Orphan Jamie is impulsive and completely self-centred. Native Awasis is steeped in native superstition, a product of abuse in residential schools. Each gradually becomes a little less extreme from their interaction.

Because it is a family film, sex never rears it head, in even the most passing reference. Sex or desire just does not exist in their universe between anybody. I found the complete lack more jarring than had they put in a token reference to somebody having the hots for someone else. It gave the movie an unrealistic Disney feel.

I had some problems with continuity. The boys keep acquiring things as needed without any explanation of where they came from. It reminded me a bit of Mary Poppins' magic bag.

I did not particularly want to watch this movie. I did not want to watch people freezing, starving, killing animals for food and eating revolting things. The movie was my roommate's choice. However, the movie more than held my interest the whole way through.