Against the Ice (2022)

admin
08/01/2025

Against the Ice (2022) is a historical survival drama directed by Peter Flinth. The film is based on the true story recounted in the memoir Two Against the Ice by Ejnar Mikkelsen. It is set in the early 20th century and follows an intense and harrowing journey of endurance, friendship, and survival in Greenland’s unforgiving Arctic landscape.

Plot Summary

In 1909, Danish explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen (played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) leads an expedition to disprove the United States’ claim to Northeast Greenland. The U.S. asserts that Greenland is two separate landmasses, a claim that could justify their territorial ambitions. To prove Greenland is one contiguous island, Mikkelsen sets out to recover records left by a previous, ill-fated expedition.

Accompanied by Iver Iversen (Joe Cole), a young and inexperienced mechanic, Mikkelsen embarks on a perilous sled journey across the ice. The two men face relentless hardships, including extreme cold, dwindling supplies, polar bear attacks, and the psychological strain of isolation. Their bond is tested as they struggle to survive and maintain hope against the odds.

Back at their ship, the Alabama, the remaining crew waits but eventually abandons them, believing they are lost. This leaves Mikkelsen and Iversen stranded in the Arctic for an extended period, further intensifying their battle for survival.

Themes

The film explores themes of resilience, determination, camaraderie, and the human will to endure in the face of extreme adversity. It also highlights the unforgiving nature of the Arctic and the historical drive for exploration and territorial claims.

Reception

Against the Ice received praise for its cinematography, which captures the stark beauty and danger of the Arctic environment. Critics and audiences appreciated the performances of Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Joe Cole, who bring emotional depth to their characters. However, some felt the pacing of the film was slow, reflective of the drawn-out and grueling nature of the expedition itself.

The movie offers a gripping tale of survival, a tribute to the resilience of explorers, and a somber reflection on the costs of human ambition.