THREE ARTS IN ANTARCTICA Film Review — Land of Artists and Ice

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A ship of typical crewmates --and, strangely enough, artists --describe their perilous sail over the strait between Antarctica and South America. Each takes a turn for hours on end standing guard, they explain, to keep an eye out for submerged ice. At last, they pull into a harbor safe from the turbulent sea.  As the drone camera pulls up and away, their ship is dwarfed against the stark backdrop of a jagged coast. Only from this perspective does the crossing of such a small craft appear truly dangerous.

Daily nautical accounts like this introduce the film Three Arts in Antarctica. Broadcasted over Polish radio, the artists meant for these day-by-day descriptive accounts to bring a greater awareness of Antarctica’s unique landscape to the Polish people. We learn from these first-hand riveting accounts that the seas and landscape are not a desolate landscape, as many people imagine, but are teeming with life.  Six different kinds of seals, as well as penguins, fish, and invertebrates, abound. Hoping also to derive creative inspiration from their voyage, the artists aim to express these newfound aesthetic wilds through their creative works and so broaden the geographical awareness of the Polish people. 

THREE ARTS IN ANTARCTICA Conveys Ethereal Landscapes

Polish filmmaker Bartosz Stróżyński made the film and took the photos.  He researched wet mount plates, an antique technique that is very temperature sensitive, which caused its own set of complications.  The portraits of the crew with Antarctica in the background have sharp contrasts where every line of their faces and strands of their hair is defined and juxtaposed against the ice, creating an ethereal and almost mystical effect.

Several dry dives into the sea show a dazzling array of colors in the facets of the floating ice, golden seaweed waving in the ocean currents below, and a crab-eating seal who lunges at the camera, baring its teeth as the diver emerges from the water. Later, seals playfully swim underwater and nudge the photographer to join them. In contrast, sundry shots of penguins cast them as unreactive stoics, uninterested in their nearby photographers. Are humans just plain boring or not so intimidating to these wobbling birds?    

The rock/folk sound of Adam Nowak of the iconic Polish band, Raz Dwa Trzy, is highlighted in the film, as he plays and sings seated on a frozen shoreline. He has composed folk music on his acoustic guitar about finding himself in this remote and exotic land.   His music seems authentic, personal, and completely at home in Antarctica, in this writer’s opinion.  

This inspiring film moved this writer to research both the filmmaker/photographer and musician to see and hear more of their work.  Anyone who appreciates a documentary style of storytelling or who is intrigued by Antarctica will likely enjoy this film.  It also will have a special appeal to those who enjoy guitar and photography. 

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Running time: 56 mins

CAST:

Founder, Director and Producer: Bartosz Stróżyński

Co Director: Rafal Kolikow

CREATIVE TEAM:

Editing and Coloring: Bartosz Stróżyński

Camera Operators: Arthur Homan and Ksawery Zylber

Underwater camera: Bartosz Stróżyński

Drone Operator: Jacek Hawrylczak

Radio Coverage, Dialogues and Interviews Recordings: Pawal Drozd

Guitarist and Songwriter: Adam Nowak

Narration: Olaf Lubaszenko

Watch Three Arts in Antarctica on Vimeo.

For more information, visit Pacific Whale Foundation’s website, along with Maui Whale Film Festival’s website.  

 Images Courtesy of Three Arts in Antarctica and Unsplash