UNDER THE ICE OF ANTARCTICA Film Review — Animals of the Antarctic

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Under the Ice of Antarctica brings us into the world of scientists who talk about their singular focus on sea spiders and temperature change. These opaque amber-hued sea spiders resemble miniature versions of the space aliens from the movie, War of the Worlds. They have long legs and gracefully walk on the ocean floor. They are not really spiders at all, but arthropods related to horseshoe crabs and scorpions.

The landscape of Antarctica is mostly black and white, but under the sea, there are pink corals, jellyfish that are the color of a rainbow, seals, icefish and red starfish.

Many organisms in Antarctica have evolved to mate and reproduce in water temperatures that have remained stable for eons. But what happens as the oceans warm? The team wonders out loud about climate change and its impact on the web of life under the sea.

Under the Ice of Antarctica is as much a film about the people who do this research and what motivates them to live and work in the environment of the McMurdo Research Station, as it is a film about the sea spiders. Instead of waking up, dressing, and driving to work, they get up and get ready to dry-dive into an environment humans could not survive in without highly specialized gear and training. Yet, they love their careers and consider themselves particularly lucky to live and work in sub-freezing temperatures. Lounging at their desks wearing down jackets, divers Steve Rupp and Rob Robbins present a casual manner that belies the passions that drive them.

Without being preachy, Under the Ice of Antarctica is a perfect film for documentary enthusiasts interested in Antarctica as well as climate change.

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Running time:  11 mins

Directed by Rachel Heckerman

Featuring Aaron Toh, Graham Lobert, Rob Robbins and Steve Rupp

Filmed by Steve Rupp, Rob Robbins and Henry Kaiser

Based on the research of Amy Moran

Watch Under the Ice of Antarctica on Vimeo.

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

Photos courtesy of Unsplash