Into the Cold: A Journey of the Soul

This documentary captures Copeland and Heger's march across the Arctic in -34 degree temperatures to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the first expedition to the North Pole by Admiral Peary in 1909 their trek (including information on their training, what they packed and why) with vivid shots of vast whiteness and their own words to describe what they're going through. Pulling heavy sleds across rocky uneven terrain with challenging weather makes the feat sometimes seem impossible: "The mood varies between euphoric and upbeat and frustrated and doubtful."

There's a strong message on climate change featured throughout as the duo are also doing this to raise awareness on melting Polar caps--Copeland makes the point that there will be no opportunity for a bicentennial expedition.

I find other people's commitments to treks like this interesting and I've certainly never experienced anything like the Arctic, but the film isn't particularly exciting, Copeland and Heger aren't featured enough for me to truly care about them (I mean, I'm not cold-hearted or anything, but there isn't enough insight for me to want to follow their story), and the scenery is definitely new but not awe-inspiring (Copeland acknowledges that capturing the scenery on film is difficult for many reasons).

So, you will not find me donning a parka and traveling to the Northwest Passage anytime soon, but if you are planning on doing something like that, you'd probably enjoy this.

For over 90 minutes Sebastian Copeland takes us step-by-step on a fascinating and dangerous trip to the North Pole. Two men, on skis, brave incredible odds to do what few people have done before.

The most important message to us all is the ecological one: and this is rightly and forcibly impressed upon us throughout the film. It's easy to sit back in an armchair in - for example - Glen Cove, New York, and decree that the film has "way too much talk about climate change"!! It's never "enough" to "drone on" about the appalling state of the earth that this generation is going to leave for the next ones! And how many people almost risk their lives to impress this upon us?

The film is beautifully shot and the narration takes us from the beginning germ of an idea in Copeland's head, to his meeting, much later on, with Keith Heger, his companion on the trek, and the many agonizing days and nights they risk in order to reach their goal.

I cannot urge you enough to see this film (I believe is is coming out on DVD). Show it to your kids! Not for one minute does one get bored with the fascinating account of what goes on in Copeland's head as he endures an eerie silence day after day, only broken by the scrape of skis on brittle snow. It is truly a wonderful opportunity that Copeland has given to us to share in this exciting adventure: one that we were actually able to follow on a daily basis exactly a year ago on his Face Book blog as the trek progressed --- from our armchairs all over the world.

This film is in serious need of an edit -- way, way too long and a complete ego trip for the filmmaker. A mere nod to the so much more harrowing Arctic expeditions that went before them and, really, didn't he realize where all that fancy high tech gear they were using comes from? That maybe, just maybe it's our love of high tech causing the problem of climate change the filmmaker preaches against? I bought this movie thinking it would take me to places I would never see in person, but all I saw were young men making endless preparations (boring), finally getting to their starting point, and then walking, walking, walking. The most interesting part were the still photographs, which were included at one point. Like another reviewer said, wait for TV -- save your money.

This movie was just okay. Ironically, it suffers from a parallel problem with the climate change cause it champions. Although movies about scenery can be beautiful and awe-inspiring, people care most about stories of other people. Yet the story of the two main players in this piece are under-told. We never really get much background on either of them. They're introduced perfunctorily, as though by resume: This guy does this; that guy does that.

We do get to see some of their preparation and a bit of the training, mostly for writer/director/star Sebastian Copeland ⎯ in fact, almost entirely for him. But we never really get to learn who they are as people. Sebastian talks a little about his photography background and the fact that climate change is important to him. But it's simply not presented in a very compelling way. There is too much "telling" and not enough "showing".

This is true for all of the personal stories. For example, he mentions in narration the problems faced by the Inuit and we do see them briefly, but there is no investigation of their history, or their individual struggles, or anything like that. We are just briefly given a few factual tidbits. Actually, even this part of the movie seemed more about Sebastian than about them. He told us that they blessed him and although that's an honor, it did seem like he was trying to tell us, "Look at how well they regard me!" Perhaps I'm wrong, but the best documentary makers know how to get out of the way when need be and show the stories of other people.

There are some technical issues with the filming itself. Other than the formal interviews, every single interior scene is out of focus. There is also a bit of rolling shutter on the outdoor scenes. The latter is no big deal, but the poor focus was distracting for me.

Ultimately, the movie is a bit like looking through an acquaintance's holiday photos. The scenes may be stunning ⎯ and they are ⎯ but there is little to truly draw us in to the human element.

Sebastian Copelands film is an escape from our modern world. When was the last time you did that? Sebastians film hits on three nerves for me. Isolation/solitude, personal/corporate responsibility and beauty. I am grateful to Sebastian for taking this journey so i could experience it through his eyes since there is NO chance i could ever do it on my own. Simply for that, this movie is a MUST see. From the time you see him weighing and packing his gear to the moment he arrives on the North Pole, you can see every moment of his experience. I'm sure condensing that to 90 minutes was difficult enough. You'll leave the film feeling a little more thought provoked on why we are here and our place in this planet.