Long Way North

Journey to the frozen Arctic in Rémi Chayé’s captivating animated adventure LONG WAY NORTH. In late-19th century Russia, 15-year-old Sasha is the daughter of an aristocrat. Bored with the conventions of high society and her parents’ tradition-bound expectations for her, Sasha is much more interested in the dangerous escapades of her renowned explorer grandfather, Oloukine. But when Oloukine and one of the Czar’s prized ships, the Davai, disappear during an expedition to the North Pole, Sasha’s family falls into disfavor. She runs away from home and embarks on an impossible quest, hopping aboard a ship headed north in hopes of both restoring her family’s honor and finding the Davai. Like pages from a children’s picture book, Chayé’s old-fashioned looking 2D animation has a less-is-more effect that beautifully illustrates the bold steps of a brave girl. –C.O.