Lovers of the Arctic Circle (1998)

In Lapland Finland, under the eternal midnight sun, two ardent lovers will reunite once again after a long period apart, governed by a powerful and eloquent circular motif that is woven by destiny, faith and love.

Director:

Julio Medem

Writer:

Julio Medem

Stars:

Najwa Nimri, Fele Martínez, Nancho Novo

13 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Najwa Nimri	...	Ana joven
Fele Martínez	...	Otto joven (as Fele Martinez)
Nancho Novo	...	Álvaro
Maru Valdivielso	...	Olga
Peru Medem	...	Otto niño
Sara Valiente	...	Ana niña
Víctor Hugo Oliveira	...	Otto adolescente
Kristel Díaz	...	Ana adolescente (as Kristel Diaz)
Pep Munné	...	Javier (as Pep Munne)
Jaroslaw Bielski	...	Álvaro Midelman (as Jaroslaw Bielski)
Rosa Morales	...	Sofía
Joost Siedhoff	...	Otto Midelman
Beate Jensen	...	Madre de Otto
Petri Heino	...	Aki
Outi Alanen	...	Mensajera

Storyline

Otto and Ana are kids when they meet each other. Their names are palindromes. They meet by chance, people are related by chance. A story of circular lives, with circular names, and a circular place (Círculo polar) where the day never ends in the midnight sun. There are things that never end, and Love is one of them.

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Plot Keywords:

stepfather stepdaughter relationship | stepbrother stepsister relationship | finland | arctic circle | male full rear nudity | 

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Taglines:

Destiny cannot be denied.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Spain France

Language:

Spanish English

Release Date:

4 September 1998 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Lovers of the Arctic Circle

Filming Locations:

Rovaniemi, Finland

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,697, 11 April 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$504,223, 1 August 1999

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+, Sociedad, Sociedad General de Televisión (Sogetel)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There's a character named Aki in the movie. This is a direct homage from director Julio Medem to Aki Kaurismaki, which Medem deeply admires.

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Goofs

Otto jumps from his plane at 66°33"40' North, 02°55"05' East. These are the geographic coordinates that Ana wrote on her letter to Otto, to mark the location where she was staying in Finland (Rovaniemi). But if he really would have used these coordinates he would have jumped right into the Atlantic Ocean. The (almost) correct location of the cottage where Ana was staying is 66°33"40' North, 25°55"05' East. That is also the same location that the old Otto points out on his map when he and Ana meet each other for the first time in his apartment in Rovaniemi.

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Quotes

Otto: Lives have many cycles but mine has only turned once and not completely... the most important thing is missing.

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Crazy Credits

"En el recuerdo de mi padre" - In memory of my father.

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Connections

Referenced in Palindromes (2004)

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Soundtracks

Sinitaivas
Written by Josef Rixner, Lauri Jauhiainen, George de Godzinsky
Performed by Olavi Virta and The Harmony Sisters

User Reviews

Beautiful, Romantic Coincidences

"Lovers of the Artic Circle (Los Amantes del Círculo Polar)" was basically "Next Stop Wonderland" crossed with "Map of the Human Heart" about a couple who fall in love as children and continue star-crossed throughout their lives.

The critics decried the theme of coincidence but it does in fact happen, so it was sweet here.

And yes they are both easy on the eyes and maybe that it's in Spanish makes them seem even more romantic.

I liked that the parents were real people who have problems and lives and grow and change.

The story line goes from each's perspective in flashbacks and current, illuminating thoughts and motivations, which seems to be a trend in movie-making.

Quite beautiful cinematography.

(originally written 5/2/1999)