Angelique’s Isle is a film that grips you with its chilling beauty and leaves you reflecting on survival, resilience and the historical injustices faced by Indigenous women.
Its raw intensity and immersive storytelling pull you deep into the harrowing journey of its protagonist, making every moment feel hauntingly real.
The 2018 Canadian historical drama is based on the true story of Angelique Mott, an Anishinaabe woman abandoned with her husband on Isle Royale, an island in Lake Superior in the state of Michigan, during the copper rush of 1845.
Angelique (Julia Jones) and Charlie (Charlie Carrick) are left to survive through a brutal winter when their employer fails to return. As starvation and isolation take their toll, Angelique’s will to survive clashes with her husband’s slow descent into despair.
The film is a gripping survival story, but it is also a powerful exploration of identity and resilience.
Angelique’s connection to her Anishinaabe heritage becomes a source of strength as she struggles to endure the relentless cold and hunger. The contrast between her determination and Charlie’s weakness highlights the deep endurance rooted in Indigenous traditions and spiritual beliefs.
Directors Marie-Hélène Cousineau and Michelle Derosier make deliberate and unconventional storytelling choices. The pacing is slow, mirroring the painful passage of time in isolation.
There is little dialogue, emphasizing Angelique’s growing solitude and inner turmoil. The film’s quiet, observational style immerses us in the bleak, snow-covered landscape, making every moment feel suffocating and inescapable.
What sets Angelique’s Isle apart is the cinematography by Celina Cardenas.
The film leans on the stunning but unforgiving landscapes of Lake Superior, using wide shots of the frozen wilderness to emphasize the couple’s insignificance against nature’s power.
The camera lingers on Angelique’s face, capturing her quiet resilience in moments of hopelessness. The cinematography isn’t just about aesthetics—it amplifies the emotional weight of the story, making the audience feel every icy gust and painful hunger.
Jones delivers a phenomenal performance as Angelique. Her portrayal is one of quiet strength, resilience and an unwavering will to survive. She carries the film, conveying complex emotions through small gestures and expressions rather than words. Her performance makes us root for her, fear for her, and ultimately admire her incredible determination.
Carrick’s portrayal of Charlie is equally effective, embodying a man whose spirit deteriorates under extreme circumstances, serving as a foil to Angelique’s fortitude.
Beyond its survival narrative, the film carries deeper messages about colonialism and exploitation.
Angelique’s struggle is not just against nature but also against a world that has cast her aside. The film is a reminder of the strength and resilience of Indigenous women, often left out of mainstream historical narratives.
Angelique’s Isle may not be for those seeking action-packed survival drama. Instead, it is a slow, meditative, and deeply emotional experience that lingers long after the final scene. It is a visually stunning and culturally significant film that deserves to be seen and remembered.