Ice Bound

This film is about how a doctor working in a research station in the South Pole survive her health problems.

"Ice Bound" tells a fascinating life in the South Pole that little people know about. In such extreme conditions, solidarity and harmony are very important in the group for survival. "Ice Bound" portrays this life in much detail. It also shows how Dr Nielsen is transformed by such atmosphere, and how her health problems affect others to push their boundaries too.

"Ice Bound" is a tale of survival, both against external environment and internal (health) conditions. If there was a little more drama, or the pace made faster, "Ice Bound" would have been an even better drama.

Susan Sarandon was excellent casting in this role. She does a good job (although I understand the real life doctor Jerri Neilsen was not impressed with the portrayal of her.) It gets a little too folksy --- hey gang lets put on a biopsy --- and it ignores Dr. Neilsen's messy personal life. I also seem to recall --- I'm willing to stand corrected here --- that the rescue flight was undertaken by a highly specialized Canadian Forces crew, not the USAF as in the picture. If so, it is appalling that a Canadian production would cater to the US market in this way! Incidentally, Lake Simcoe, about 40 miles north of Toronto, a large lake which, unlike Lake Ontario, freezes over in the winter, stood in for the South pole.

ICE BOUND (2003) ***1/2 Dr. Jerry Neilson is a physician who heads to the South Pole (Antarctica) to medicate any of the workers there who get injured. Upon arriving, she has to adjust to the interpersonal work setting before her and living in close proximity to the researchers (limiting personal time for herself). As she adjusts to the new surreal environment in which she has entered, she discovers and informs her fellow group that she has breast cancer, and that she may die if she doesn't get appropriate treatment from the United States. Another problem is, a plane only travels to Antarctica once every year to take people home. As she waits to depart, she finds comfort in her newfound friends, and hope through their willingness to help her.

I liked this movie because it told a very interesting story about living in a totally different world at the south pole. Susan Sarandon is such a good actor, that she made an interesting, strong character out of mediocre writing. The true story displays a devastating situation for her character to overcome.

An amazing story that is told about Dr. Jerri Nielsen who was had everything going against her at the ends of the earth and her courage and strength that got her thru the ordeal, including the 109 Air Lift Wing out of New York, who someone incorrectly attributes to the Canadian air force.

While some of the parts seem campy, or silly or do not make any sense. It rings true to the hundreds of men and women who winter'd over on 'the ice' especially at the pole. The duress the body is put thru is amazing, both physically and psychologically. This story looks to me as true as you might be able to get away from the pole itself.