Made after the tradition of “March of the Penguins,” the new movie “Arctic Tale” is a documentary about life in the wild. We begin our story with the birth of Nanu, a polar bear cub, and her little brother. Her mother dug a birthing cave and climbed into it to have her babies, and when the time came for them to come out of their snowy home, she hadn’t eaten in six months. She’s ready to come out into the world and teach her babies how to hunt and be bears.
We also see a new walrus baby, Seela. It’s becoming more and more rare for walrus babies to be born, so Seela is watched over by all in her herd, especially by Aunty, her very large walrus guardian angel. As Seela grows, she is hunted by polar bears, her natural enemy, but Aunty protects her with ease.
The movie shows us how these animals live, eat, and learn the ways of their species. There is some mild peril, as can be expected from a nature documentary, but the film is rated G, so there’s nothing too over the top. Narrated by Queen Latifah, we always know what’s going on as she explains to us the rituals and habits of these animals. We stay with these animals for eight years until they have reached their full maturity.
I enjoyed the film quite a bit. My children fluctuated between being interested and . . . not interested. They wandered through the room, sometimes stopping for a few minutes, or not, depending on the scene. I would say my eleven-year-old daughter was the most interested out of the group. As far as an age recommendation for your family, I can’t really make one – it all depends on your own children and you’re the best judge. I found the movie to be well-made, informative, and definitely worth my time.
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