The Snow Walker (2003)

Director:

Charles Martin Smith

Writers:

Farley Mowat (book)
Charles Martin Smith (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 March 2004 (Canada)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

Their Fight For Survival Formed An Unbreakable Bond.

Plot:

A pilot and his passenger struggle for survival after crashing in the Arctic tundra.

Plot Keywords:

Survival | Plane | Tundra | Tuberculosis | Inuit

Awards:

8 wins & 20 nominations

Cast

Barry Pepper	...	Charlie Halliday
Annabella Piugattuk	...	Kanaalaq
James Cromwell	...	Walter Shepherd
Kiersten Warren	...	Estelle
Jon Gries	...	Pierce
Robin Dunne	...	Carl
Malcolm Scott	...	Warren
Michael Bublé	...	Hap
Brad Sihvon	...	Mr. Izzard
Greg Spottiswood	...	Mr. Moss
Samson Jorah	...	Sammy
William MacDonald	...	Miner in Bar
Mariano Aupilardjuk	...	Elder Inuk
Peter Henry Arnatsiaq	...	Young Inuk
Peter Ipkornerk	...	Inuit Snow Camp

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements, language, some disturbing images and brief nudity.

Runtime:

103 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

South Korea:All | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Netherlands:MG6 | USA:PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Churchill, Manitoba, Canada

Company:

Astral Media

Trivia:

A tame reindeer herd stood in for the wild caribou during the hunt scene.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When is snowing, where the plane is crushed, the snow doesn't touch the water. The water isn't disturbed.

Quotes:

Shepherd: Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds, - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - Wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air...

Movie Connections:

Featured in Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche (2004) (TV)

Powerful & Gripping

The Snow Walker, following the Farley Mowat book 'Walk Well My Brother' introduces the characters Charlie Halliday, a self-absorbed pilot (played by Barry Pepper) and Kanaalaq, a quiet, resourceful Inuit girl (played by Annabella Piugattuk). The film is directed by Charles Martin Smith, the man who played the main character in Farley Mowat's 'Never Cry Wolf' which must have inspired him to translate this Mowat book into another film. The movie is exceptionally well made, especially considering its low 10 million CDN budget. The camera is well controlled, and the beautiful scenery is captured as well as in any film. Barry Pepper is, as always, a natural talent. He takes the arrogant Charlie on a journey not only of Canada's Northwest Territories, but of character development. Annabella Piugattuk is wonderful as the succinct Inuit girl. Despite language barriers, the two characters manage to communicate well enough, and their relationship blossoms in a fascinating way. You'll find this film exciting, and it is much more entertaining than you'd expect. My only wish was that the film's conclusion was extended; I wanted to see more. I look forward to both Charles Martin Smith and Barry Pepper's next efforts. 9/10