As the title implies, Far North takes us even further into the wilderness than The Way Back, perhaps as far removed from civilization as you can get, deep into the Arctic tundra. It also takes us firmly into unfamiliar cultural territory, taking as its central character a woman under the influence of a shamanic prophecy. Michelle Yeoh stars as Saiva who, accompanied by a younger woman Anja, ekes out a living amidst the frozen landscape while desperately avoiding bands of Soviet soldiers patrolling the area. After almost getting caught, the two of them press northwards where they hope to be safe, where they encounter a wounded man called Loki (Sean Bean). After they take him in and nurse back to health a relationship with Anja begins to blossom, and as the two prepare to return to civilization and start a family of their own, Salva's jealousy transforms into an unspeakable act which has to be seen to be believed. Another ravishing-looking film, Far North was unfortunately in and out of cinemas in a flash. There's something timeless about it, with only the presence of the Soviets and a hand-cranked radio hinting that it's set in the 20th century, and Michelle Yeoh's strong central performance is as expressive and ambiguous as the flashbacks which punctuate the narrative. It also has one of the most shocking and unexpected endings in film history, which brings new meaning to the mixed motif of sex and death.
