Long Way North
2015 · Directed by Rémi Chayé
Original language: French
- adventure
- animation
- drama
- family
The story
In 1892 Saint Petersburg, when her explorer grandfather's failure to return from his latest expedition brings dishonour to her aristocratic family, a resilient teenager runs away to follow in his trail in search of his famed ship.
What it’s like
Hand-drawn in a soft, painterly style with flat watercolour-like washes, Long Way North moves between the warm ochre of Saint Petersburg drawing rooms and the vast, bleached palette of Arctic ice: pale blues, greys and blinding whites that open into wide empty horizons and drifting snowfields. Its camera tends toward patient, composed frames, letting landscapes breathe, while the score is sparse and orchestral, with strings and wind swelling quietly over long stretches of silence and the creak of ice. The vibe is wistful and quietly determined, a gentle sense of wonder with a bit of salt-air grit. It suits a rainy Sunday, a long-haul flight, or a calm evening with a blanket. The pacing is unhurried, and its emotional register is hopeful and sincere, following a young woman who learns to trust her own judgment and slowly builds a crew of friends. Intensity is low: there is peril from weather and ice, and a few tense moments at sea, but no gore and little sustained violence. It is for viewers who love coming-of-age journeys, historical adventure and classic-style animation that favours atmosphere over spectacle.
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