A couple of polar foxes awaiting the birth of their cubs live peacefully in the Canadian Far North. When the rapid melting of the ice separates the lovers, each must face their share of dangers to survive.
From the first seconds of Kina & Yuk: foxes of the ice floe, we are blown away by the beauty of the Canadian Great North. The sun rising over the great white expanses. The icy wind that lifts the snowflakes. The snow-capped mountains rising on the horizon. We feel transported to the Yukon, the location of the feature film.
The beauty of the landscapes is not the only thing highlighted by the camera of Guillaume Maidatchevsky, a specialist in animal fiction. The numerous close-ups of foxes, wolves and other members of the Arctic fauna allow us to observe their splendor and admire their skills in a way that we rarely have the opportunity to do. In this sense, the film is sometimes reminiscent of the best animal documentaries.
By adding to these magnificent images the off-camera voice of narrator Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse who tells the story of the fox couple, the filmmaker succeeds in translating the actions of his four-legged protagonists into emotions.
However, we deplore a scenario that is far too predictable. When we see Kina and Yuk being separated by the melting ice, we very easily imagine the end of the film. She will be happy, of course.
Some scenes are also repetitive. Kina runs to escape a red fox. Kina runs to escape a (big) bad black wolf. Kina runs to escape from the dogs… We understand that the little vixen is not welcome anywhere.
I have to say that Kina & Yuk: foxes of the ice floe is a contemplative film. The filmmaker gives viewers time to get to know his heroes, even if it means showing two foxes having fun in the snow for several minutes. Will this slow pace and the absence of words, apart from Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse’s narration, appeal to a family audience? We ask ourselves the question. Some children will probably be amazed to see Arctic wildlife up close, while others will be turned off by this proposition to which they are not accustomed.
However, we cannot blame the film for not being current. This depiction of the repercussions of climate change in the Far North inspires a desire to make a contribution to this fight. The feature film ends with a call to action: “Everything is still possible. It’s up to us to act! »
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Adventure movie
Kina & Yuk: foxes of the ice floe
William Maidatchevsky
Narration by Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse
1:20 a.m.