A lovingly animated voyage of self-discovery.
Note: Long Way North premiered on the west coast at 2016's COLCOA French Film Festival. It opens in theaters in Los Angeles, New York and select major markets on September 30. Shout! Factory Films will distribute the picture in U.S. theaters this October.
Director Rémi Chayé's Long Way North may not be as showy or intricate as a Pixar movie, but its deceptive simplicity is part of what makes it so great. In addition to featuring a wonderful art style, the French-Danish film takes place in the 19th-century Arctic, which automatically sets it apart from most other animated features. It also includes heart-pounding thrills, high stakes and genuine emotion, which culminate in one utterly charming story.
Beginning in St. Petersburg, the film follows Sacha (voiced by Chloé Dunn in the American dubbed version), a young girl from nobility who dreams of leaving her upper-crust lifestyle behind and joining her grandfather Olukine (Geoffrey Greenhill), a renowned captain and explorer, on one of his seafaring adventures. Suffice to say, Sacha's uptight parents disapprove of such impulses, but when Olukine goes missing after he tries to conquer the North Pole, Sacha makes it her mission to find him and his ship, the indestructible Davaï.
Right off the bat, it's hard not to mention the film's stunning design work and animation. Foregoing contour lines, the images here are almost completely made up of vibrant color fills, which give the picture a distinct, painterly look. Between the production's masterful coloring and sublime sense of scale, nearly every single frame of the movie looks like it could be an art print ready for hanging. In a world overrun with CGI and photorealistic texturing, Long Way North's abstract style is breath of fresh air.
Still from Long Way North
Of course, it's one thing to look good, but the story and characters are equally compelling. Sacha herself is immediately likable as a strong, capable female lead. She knows maps better than anyone and tries her hand at several different trades over the course of the story. At the same time, though, her character does make mistakes, and she meets a lively cast of characters who help her along the way.
For example, early on, Sacha gets swindled out of a pair of earrings by a wily first mate called Larson (Peter Hudson), who promises her safe passage through the Great North. But later, when Sacha pops into a tavern, she discovers that Larson and his ship the Norge have already set sail without her, leaving the young girl with no money and no place to go. Lucky for her, a gruff innkeeper named Olga (Vivienne Vermes) takes her in and teaches Sasha how to fend for herself so she can confront Larson and ship off to the North Pole.
Still from Long Way North
Eventually, Sacha gains the respect of Larson, the stoic Captain Lund (Peter Hudson), a feisty apprentice named Katch (Anthony Hickling) and the rest of the Norge's motley crew -- which is a key part of the story. However, Long Way North is really about one girl's journey to find her grandfather, while discovering herself in the process. In that, I think, Chayé's narrative is timeless, but also very modern in its approach to storytelling.
The Verdict
Clocking in at 87 minutes, Long Way North spins a fantastical yarn with beautiful visuals, upbeat storytelling and a strong female lead -- not to mention a great voice cast and score by Jonathan Morali. While perhaps not as mainstream as your typical animated feature, Rémi Chayé's period piece never feels pretentious, nor pandering to children, and finds a happy medium for all ages. If you're looking for something a little different but still accessible and sweet, look no further than Long Way North.
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