Ice Bridge: Mackinac Island's Hidden Season

For anyone who has ever been to the island during the summer, this film provides a whole new perspective for the winter months. The island takes on an almost magical look around Christmas and provides a unique perspective to the winter lives of the permanent residents, and BTW their Dogs and Horses. The only drawback is the narrator. Her style and low monotone voice disrupts what should be a more vibrant, and enthusiastic narration. In fact it reminds you of a Kindergarten Teacher reading a Winnie the Pooh book to her students. From this reviewer's perspective it took much away from the splendor of the videoography itself. But putting that aside, it is certainly worth experiencing.

I've never been to Mackinac Island, but I had heard quite a bit about how it is in the summertime where you feel like you've gone back 100 years to a simpler time. It was a revelation to experience all of the seasons on the island through this film. Through humor, a great soundtrack, sparse narration, and beautiful camera-work, I felt like I had seen something that few have experienced. This is Mackinac Island's "March of the Penguins." I felt like I was being taken on a candid and gentle guide through a faraway place. The film works on a real personal level, and the filmmakers and the personality of the island itself seem to be in perfect tune. I highly recommend this meditative yet surprisingly dramatic documentary.