Lovers of the Arctic Circle
Seen it?1998 | 112 min | Drama, Mystery, Romance
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (82% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and romantics. If you loved Atonement or I'm Thinking of Ending Things, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense, warm and romantic.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 52 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
- It's in Spanish, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
As young children, Otto and Ana become best friends, leading to the marriage of Ana's mother to Otto's father. When Otto and Ana become teenagers, they begin a sexual relationship, which they hide from their parents. The two fall deeply in love and seem destined to spend the rest of their lives together. However, their relationship is tested when Otto's mother dies and the two are separated.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
82% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.3 out of 10
- AwardsBelow par
2 wins and 2 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 10K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Julio Medem
- Najwa NimriYoung Ana
- Fele MartínezYoung Otto
- Nancho NovoÁlvaro
- Maru ValdivielsoOlga
- Sara ValienteChild Ana
- Peru MedemChild Otto
- Kristel DíazTeenage Ana
- Víctor Hugo OliveiraTeenage Otto
- Beate JensenOtto's Mother
- Rosa MoralesSofía