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A teen's trek to the Arctic is captured with beautiful animation in "Long Way North," a charming French-Danish production.
Set in 19th-century Russia, Sacha (voiced by Chloe Dunn) is a 14-year-old aristocrat's daughter who idolizes her grandfather Oulokine, a great explorer who never returned from his last North Pole expedition. When she finds a clue to his whereabouts, she defies her parents' plans to marry her off and sets out to find a ship to follow Oulokine's path.
Rookie director Rèmi Chayè, who worked on the Irish animated tale "The Secret of Kells," uses a hand-drawn animation style that avoids black-lined borders on the characters and settings, giving the movie a luminous quality. The story has plenty of adventure as it celebrates the pluck and determination of this young woman.
'Long Way North'
Opening Friday, Nov. 18, at the Broadway Centre Cinemas; rated PG for some peril and mild language; 81 minutes.