It is a dog movie. But I think it is not a story about dogs, but a story about human.

Inspired by a true story happened in a Japanese Antarctic scientific expedition in 1957, EIGHT BELOW is an action-adventure about loyalty and the bonds of friendship set in the extreme wilderness of Antarctica. The film tells the story of a member of a scientific expedition: Jerry Shepard, who was forced to leave behind their team of beloved sled dogs due to a sudden accident and perilous weather conditions in Antarctica. During the harsh, Antarctic winter, the dogs had to struggle for survival alone in the intense frozen wilderness for about 6 months. Jerry finally found the way to go back for the dogs. 6 out of 8 dogs survived.

It is heart-warming that Jerry kept his promise and returned for his dog friends. It is also understandable that the scientist, who had been saved with the crucial help of the sled dogs, didn’t want to spend his sponsor funds in finding the dogs that might have already been killed in the fierce conditions in Antarctica. Besides, the son of the scientist, Erics, threw a picture of 8 dogs and noted “My hero is…the dogs who saved my Daddy.”, which is also impressive and moving.

If life’s just so easy, we can simply indulge us in the self-deceiving warmth of the movie. But things are not so simple. Shucked off all the disguise of morals and ethics, people are quite emotionless sometimes.

Despite of the ingrate scientist, let’s just have a look on Jerry, who seems to be the most sensational and emotional for the dogs. Jerry did try hard but ran into dozens of obstacles. He gave up the idea of returning to the Antarctic base to save the dogs and would have quitted forever if the Indian sled dog raiser inspired him by saying “It isn’t a story about dogs. It’s about my father.” while the dogs were struggling alone for survival and remained around the scientific base waiting for Jerry to come back. Jerry delayed his plan of returning due to some facts and drew the dogs into extreme peril of death from frost or starvation. Thinking the dogs might have all been killed, Jerry went back just to make for sure with his own eyes, which could re-acquire his easy conscience and set him free from inerasable sense of guilt. The rescue action was actually for his own sake due to my observations and considerations. Then what we can expect from others.

EIGHT BELOW gives the audience a good ending that Maya came to consciousness. And it drove me into tears when Jerry drew out the empty iron chain for thick snow and exclaimed with immense concussion “They’ve escaped” though I’d already known that ahead. However, that is the movie, not the real world. Before EIGHT BELOW, another film was made sticking to the true story, ANTARCTICA, leading acted by Ken Takakura in 1983, in which the story was more cruel and realistic as well. 15 dogs in all but only 2 of them were still alive when the expedition members returned. No Maya, No Max, No Truman, No Shorty, No… That’s the fact and reality.

Dogs are human’s best friends. Dogs are human’s best friends?