Based on British writer Sara Maitland's short story True North, Far North isn't what you might expect from a film starring Michelle Yeoh. Dark, bleak, and depressing, it's not an easy movie to sit through. But if you want to see a different side of Michelle Yeoh's acting, it's well worth watching.

Set in an unspecified region of the arctic tundra, Far North tells the story of Saiva (Michelle Yeoh), a woman who has taken to roaming the wilderness alone after a shaman tells her family she will bring bad luck. Saiva's life consists of roaming the wilderness along with her adopted daughter, Anja (Michelle Krusiec), and trying to avoid invading Russian troops that are viciously attempting to take over the region's rich natural resources.

While hunting one day, Saiva comes upon a Russian deserter, Ivan (Sean Bean), who is dying. Despite some hesitation, Saiva takes in Ivan and saves his life. Saiva begins to develop feelings for Ivan, but she is rebuffed as he and Anja start to form a deep romantic bond. Saiva's intense loneliness turns into burning jealousy, and she soon hatches a devious plan to keep Ivan for herself.

From the beginning, where Saiva slashes the throat to one of her pack dogs in order to get food, to the end, where the fruition of her plan results in an unorthodox display of bloodshed, Far North is not an easy road to plow through. Unless you're a Hong Kong movie fan whose tastes run towards the Category III end of the spectrum, there most likely will be some segments of Far North that will be difficult to sit through without cringing.

But if you're willing to expand your cinematic spectrum a bit, then you'll be rewarded with a solid viewing experience with Far North. It's by no means an easy or brainless film to sit through, but afterwards, you'll at least have some thoughts left behind about what you just watched -- which, in this day and age of movies that are becoming almost as disposable as the recycled DVD cases they come in, is an accomplishment worth noting.

RATING: 7