Antarctica (1983) - Nankyoku monogatari (Japanese)

[PumaMan]

In the late 80s I saw the 1983 Japanese movie Antarctica, directed by Koreyoshi Kurahara, on cable, which I recorded onto a VHS tape. It is dubbed into English (which I hate) but at least they used Japanese voices which results in the dub being heavily accented and gives it some sort of correctness. It is not available on a region 1 DVD.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085991/

The movie is based on a true story and centers around two Japanese scientists during 1957-1958 at the Japanese station in Antarctica. Due to an unexpected and severe storm and ship problems just before they are to leave in late autumn, the ship cannot land the next expedition so they are forced to leave their Sakhalin Husky sled dogs behind. The movie deals with what (likely) happened to the dogs and the anguish and guilt felt by the two scientists as they go about their careers back in Japan -- unable to do anything at all to rescue the dogs. I'll just say that I've seen this movie a dozen times and it still brings a tear to my eye at the end. The two scientists are played by Tsunehiko Watase and Ken Takakura, who has been in several Hollywood flicks and may be familiar to you.

The music by Vangelis is beautiful and one of my favorite CDs. Here is the album with 30-sec samples:

http://www.amazon.com/Antarctica-Music-Koreyoshi-Kuraharas-Film/dp/B000001F5A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1285633338&sr=1-1

Although I can't find any reference now, I read that it became the highest grossing movie in Japan when it debuted. I have never met another person that has seen this movie. Hopefully someone here has.

BTW, this movie was remade by Hollywood in 2006 as Eight Below, which I've never seen.

[wintertriangles]

theeeeeere we go :up:

It's Japanese, therefore I want to see it. It's even better that the music is a highlight

[PumaMan]

theeeeeere we go :up:

It's Japanese, therefore I want to see it. It's even better that the music is a highlight

Well, if you are really serious, you will probably have to buy a used VHS tape off of e-Bay. Not sure you will be able to find a rental and I haven't seen it on TV/cable since the 80s.

[wintertriangles]

Found a lot of region free dvds :D

[PumaMan]

Found a lot of region free dvds :D

All right -- cough it up there. I've been looking for a DVD.

[wintertriangles]

Bought mine here (http://www.jpdorama.com/JapaneseMovie/family/Nankyoku_monogatari.asp)

[PumaMan]

Bought mine here (http://www.jpdorama.com/JapaneseMovie/family/Nankyoku_monogatari.asp)

That's a reasonable price and it looks to be subtitled -- yeah! Thanks man!

[planet news]

F-ing Japs. Gotta love 'em. I think frickin' PumaMan is going to cause me to watch another one of his recs this weekend.

[PumaMan]

I have to admit that for me the music by Vangelis is probably 50% of why I like the movie so much. That and the obvious love these men had for the dogs.

Here are some good samples of the music from the movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAcRGE_XoDE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5p58bVlNaE

Here are a couple of scenes from the movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CYkJbz775w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w0Xy_6WIY0

[planet news]

Well, I'm definitely watching this film, so I'm not going to listen to any of the music or watch scenes from it just yet.

I wonder... is it "wrong" to listen to a film's score before you watch it? I sorta think it is.

[PumaMan]

Well, I'm definitely watching this film, so I'm not going to listen to any of the music or watch scenes from it just yet.

I'm anxious to know what others think of it. My wife is the only other person I know that has seen it.


I wonder... is it "wrong" to listen to a film's score before you watch it? I sorta think it is.
Good question. Maybe worth a thread of its own.

[planet news]

Nahhhhhhhh... why make a new one when we could just hijack this puppy?

[linespalsy]

What's wrong about it?

I had kind of built up a whole movie in my head around Ravenous based on song titles and the soundtrack to the movie (Cannibal Fantasy...) but as it turned out the music was much more cinematic than the film, somehow. Not sure I would have reacted differently to the movie if I hadn't listened to the music a lot first though.

I think the Michael Nyman soundtracks were the whole reason I saw that movie and gave some Winterbottom and Greenaway films a try. So that's a personal plus for listening to soundtracks at least.

Another one is Arizona Dream... "this is a film about a dramatic relationship between man and fish... the fish doesn't think because the fish knows everything" that retarded but completely serious lyric made me want to see that movie.

[PumaMan]

A warning about this movie:

There are very realistic scenes of dogs dying. So realistic that my wife only watched it once and won't watch it again. The scenes are simulated with fake blood and anesthetic is used by vets to "show" the dogs dying slow deaths in the freezing cold. Also some shots of dogs dying were filmed in the studio and spliced into the outdoor scenes. Even knowing that none of the dogs were hurt during the filming, it is still somewhat disturbing to watch.

[wintertriangles]

no problem, I love depressing stuff

[PumaMan]

Three minuses:

- The dubbing is pretty bad at times -- I hate dubbed movies.
- The camera work is a bit shaky in some scenes.
- The VHS is in full-screen (4:3) and that surely can't be the original aspect ratio.

[wintertriangles]

Well, dubbing is not relevant since the dvd is in japanese, and that simultaneously takes care of Minus #3. Shaky cameras is a problem?

[wintertriangles]

I would just like to say that my disc has a grand total of 1 chapter, way to go all david lynch on me

[PumaMan]

I would just like to say that my disc has a grand total of 1 chapter, way to go all david lynch on me

Oh well. As long as it plays well.

I'm anxious to see how if you like it and also a little afraid that you won't.

[wintertriangles]

I loved it, there was a lot of build up most people could see as useless filler but I really enjoyed the scenery. Ending shot me in the heart, still didn't cry though. Shame, can't find that one movie. Same goes for scaring me. What am I?

[PumaMan]

I loved it, there was a lot of build up most people could see as useless filler but I really enjoyed the scenery. Ending shot me in the heart, still didn't cry though. Shame, can't find that one movie. Same goes for scaring me. What am I?

Did you like the Vangelis score?

[wintertriangles]

Naturally. Does he have any other work, films or otherwise?