As we drove to the movie I was thinking this might be a contender for my favourite movie. The scenery was beautiful, the acting was good. What it lacked, in my opinion, was a story.
We learn very early that Frankie's family have gathered for a family vacation. We also find out early in the story that Frankie is dying. I thought the big reveal to the family would be Frankie's illness but everyone already seemed to know. So I'm not sure what the point of the story was. The dysfunctional family weren't drawn any closer together and the long, very long, closing scene left me thinking maybe I missed something in the movie.
It was lovely to hear the Inuktitut language again. How can a vast expanse of snow and ice be so breathtaking? The humour and laughter of the characters, particularly the translator, were wonderful.
The theme of the movie is an Anglican priest (who assures the Inuit that he is different from the Catholic priests) who is trying to persuade a group of hunters to move to a settlement. When persuasion doesn't work he tells them it is the law that they have to move.