sprizzle’s review published on Letterboxd:
Herzog once again, delivers a movie like nothing else. Something that makes you feel alive. Something that makes visiting Antarctica not only enjoyable but life affirming. It's that powerful.
If I could describe this film using only one word that word would be ethereal. Definition provided by Google, "extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world." That is such a perfect summation of the average Werner Herzog film. He takes something that may appear to be of this world and forces you to see it in the light he chooses. He turns Antarctica, a continent generally reserved for informative science documentaries and turns it into a piece of art. A creepy, cold, but extremely beautiful piece of art.
But it's more than just pretty. He does take a lot of time out during this doc to show the day to day living in the desert. You get a feel from some of the off-beat characters living there and you get a chance to see how they survive. It manages to be informative and breath taking all at the same time. Exactly what I hope to get from a well-made documentary. Like I said, this literally had me wanting to visit Antarctica. I don't think that thought had ever crossed my mind before seeing this film. It seems like such a perfect, quiet place. And the brutality of nature showcased here is what makes the risk of living there palpable. It's a must see for fans of Herzog's style.