Ice Bound

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.

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 have been a Susan Sarandon fan for ever. and much appreciated her skill in this MOVIE. I watched it a the untimely moment when a friend of mine is also starting her battle with cancer, which add some depth in receiving this film. Here we have to accept that people do watch movies mostly for their entertaining benefit. On the other end, with today's awareness of of facts and knowledges'availability about almost everything. One has to ask serious questions as why the true facts of the event seems to have been distorted in favour of the wrong deserving people. Quite amazing that only 7 commentaries (8 if mine is accepted), are available here. I think if I was more involved with such a case I'd ask all my friends and acquaintances to have a look at the movie and the facts and put their comments on all available relevant fora.

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.

The movie is about Jerri Nielsen who was lifted out of the Antarctic base in October 1999 by LC130 of the NY ANG which was done earlier than normal because of her condition. They couldn't attempt it any earlier because it was too cold.

The comments about Kenn Borek Air being the actual rescuers mistakes the pickup of Ron Shemenski in April 2001 from that same Antarctic base as Dr. Nielsen's pickup. NSF apparently decided that the Otters would probably have less trouble (they can land in somewhat lower temperatures than LC130s) and be easier to support for the mission and had the LC130s recalled.