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Parents' Guide to

Arctic Tale

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Kid-friendly film serves up inconvenient truth.

Movie G 2007 85 minutes
Arctic Tale Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 5+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Lebron12James3
Lebron12James3 Parent
April 24, 2022
age 2+

RIPOFF OF SHARK TALE

clairemaxmom
clairemaxmom Adult
April 21, 2012
age 7+

the site's review forgot about the part where they leave behind the baby

I think the review by this site was appropriate, because it lets parents know that the polar bears do some things that are disturbing. But it left out the scene where the mom bear LEAVES BEHIND her baby, presumably to die. This was too much for my 7 year old, and almost too much for me!
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

ARCTIC TALE (from husband-and-wife filmmakers Sarah Robertson and Adam Ravetch) documents the lives of Arctic creatures at a time when their habitat is increasingly endangered. (It's not a strict documentary, as a fictionalized narrative has been attached to the visuals.) By focusing on Nanu, a polar bear, and Seela, a walrus, Robertson and Ravetch have made the doom-and-gloom global warming discussion that much more approachable for children. It's equally potent for grown-ups, too: The inconvenient truth is made more inconvenient by seeing how it affects Arctic wildlife.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (2 ):

In many ways, it's great not to be hammered over the head with this lesson -- we've heard it a lot lately. (It also helps that the movie's decidedly laid-back; in once scene where walruses are described as a tight bunch, the song "We Are Family" comes on loudly.) But Arctic Tale may be a little too subtle for young kids to truly learn. Older kids, though, will get the hint, especially when the credits roll and kids like them are shown onscreen doling out advice on how to make a difference.

By now, few remain unaware of Al Gore's inconvenient truth: that the planet, as we know it, is threatened and suffering, a distressing situation partly caused by the choices we make and the way we live. But how to drive home that message to young kids? By telling a story, and telling it well.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how walruses and polar bears are like human beings. How do the "families" in Arctic Tale act like yours, and how are they different?

  • Has the media ever depicted animal life in this way before? What about the changing Arctic environment? What is causing all the change? Is it unstoppable? How can humans help?

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