You know that feeling when you stumble upon a movie that feels like a secret? That’s exactly what happened to me with The Sun at Midnight. It’s not some massive Hollywood blockbuster with a hundred-million-dollar marketing budget. It’s better. It’s an intimate, raw, and visually stunning piece of Canadian cinema that takes you into the Gwich'in territory of the Northwest Territories, and honestly, it stays with you long after the credits roll.
The film follows an urban teenager named Lia, played by Devery Jacobs—who you might recognize from Reservation Dogs—and an elder named Alfred, played by Duane Howard. They are lost in the sub-arctic. But it isn't just a "survival" movie. It’s about two people from different worlds finding a weird, necessary connection while the sun literally refuses to set.
What Makes The Sun at Midnight Different?
Most movies set in the North treat the landscape like a villain. The cold is trying to kill you. The bears are trying to eat you. While those stakes exist here, director Kirsten Carthew does something smarter. She treats the land as a character. You see the "Land of the Midnight Sun" not just as a backdrop, but as a living, breathing entity that dictates how the characters move, breathe, and think.
Lia is a rebel. She’s a city kid sent to live with her Gwich’in grandmother in a small northern town, and she hates it. She’s grieving, she’s angry, and she decides to run away to find her way back to the "real world." Instead, she gets hopelessly lost. That’s when she meets Alfred. He’s a caribou hunter who is dealing with his own massive, quiet burden.
Their chemistry isn't romantic. Thank god. It’s a messy, generational friction that slowly grinds down into mutual respect.
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The Realism of the Northwest Territories
One thing you’ve got to understand about The Sun at Midnight is where it was filmed. This wasn't a soundstage in Vancouver. They shot this on location in Fort McPherson and around the Peel River watershed. That authenticity bleeds through every frame. When you see the characters swatting at bugs or squinting against that relentless 24-hour light, that’s real.
The production faced actual challenges. Wild weather. Remote access. Dealing with the logistics of the North is a nightmare for a film crew, but it gives the movie a texture you can’t fake with CGI. You can almost smell the moss and the diesel.
- The Casting: Devery Jacobs is a powerhouse. Even back then, you could tell she was going to be a star. She brings a vulnerability to Lia that makes her likable even when she’s being a brat.
- The Language: Hearing the Gwich'in language and seeing the cultural practices integrated naturally—not as a "teaching moment" but just as a part of Alfred's life—is incredibly refreshing.
- The Cinematography: David Curtis, the DP, deserves a massive amount of credit. Shooting in constant daylight is actually a huge technical challenge because you lose the "golden hour" transitions that filmmakers love. He managed to make the harsh, flat light look poetic.
Addressing the "Slow" Criticism
Some people might find the pacing a bit deliberate. It’s not an action-packed thriller. If you’re looking for The Revenant with bear fights every twenty minutes, this isn't it. This is a character study. It’s about the silence. It’s about the way Lia’s headphones—her literal connection to her old life—eventually run out of battery, forcing her to actually listen to the wind and Alfred’s stories.
Basically, the movie asks you to slow down. It’s a meditative experience.
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Alfred isn't a "magical" guide either. He’s a guy. He’s grumpy. He’s tired. He’s mourning the loss of a way of life and a literal herd of caribou that isn't where it’s supposed to be. The ecological subtext here is subtle but heavy. The caribou are disappearing, and with them, a piece of the Gwich'in soul.
Why You Should Care About Indie Canadian Film
We spend so much time consuming whatever Netflix pushes to the top of our feed. But The Sun at Midnight represents the kind of storytelling that actually moves the needle on representation and regional identity. It was the first feature film from the Northwest Territories to get this kind of international traction, winning awards at the Whistler Film Festival and several others.
It’s a story about healing. Both characters are broken in ways they don't want to admit. The wilderness doesn't "fix" them in a cheesy way; it just provides the space for them to stop running.
Key Takeaways for Viewers
If you're going to watch it, keep these things in mind to get the most out of the experience:
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- Watch the background. The landscape changes subtly as they move deeper into the bush. It’s a visual map of their internal states.
- Listen to the sound design. The hum of the Arctic summer is unique. It’s never truly quiet.
- Research the Gwich'in. After the movie, look up the Gwich'in Steering Committee and their work to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It gives the film's caribou subplot a whole new level of urgency.
The Sun at Midnight is more than just a survival story; it's a bridge between two versions of Canada that rarely talk to each other. It’s a reminder that even when the sun never goes down, you can still find yourself in the dark—and that sometimes, the only way out is to sit still and wait for someone to show you the way.
How to Find and Support the Film
Tracking down smaller indie films can be a pain, but this one is worth the hunt. It has popped up on various streaming platforms like Amazon Prime and Apple TV depending on your region, and it's frequently featured in Canadian film retrospectives.
Support the creators. Follow Kirsten Carthew’s work. Look for Devery Jacobs' other projects. When we watch these films, we ensure that more stories from the edges of the map get told. Start by checking your local library's digital portal or searching "The Sun at Midnight streaming" to see current availability in your area. If you can, buy a physical copy or a digital rental—indie filmmakers see a much larger percentage of that revenue than they do from your monthly subscription pennies.
Next Steps for Film Lovers:
- Check the official website or social media pages for The Sun at Midnight to see if there are any upcoming screenings or special editions.
- Look up the filmography of the Gwich'in collaborators involved in the project to discover more Indigenous-led storytelling.
- Add "Arctic Cinema" as a search tag in your streaming apps to find similar atmospheric northern tales like The Grizzlies or Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner.