To the Arctic

Beauty masks tragedy in To the Arctic, an IMAX documentary narrated by Meryl Streep that is set at the top of the world, where the natural cycles of animals are increasingly being threatened by climate change. Viewers will see starving polar bears desperately swimming in search of sea ice from which they can hunt sea lions (we're told that the sea ice will be gone by 2050), arctic birds struggling with changing seasons, and walruses stuck on land, while Inuit locals note that the ice is thinning so badly that they fall through. There is also fantastic footage of a caribou migration to a traditional birthing ground, a journey that is becoming harder because of rising temperatures—so many calves are born and die before their mothers reach their destination. Meanwhile, underwater footage reveals the effects of acidic water from distant greenhouse gases. In the documentary's dramatic, nail-biting highlight, a female polar bear and her two cubs are pursued by a male bear, resulting in a tense confrontation. Backed by the music of Paul McCartney, this is an entertaining, enlightening, yet also alarming film. Extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes. Highly recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (T. Keogh)