WHEN THE NORTH WIND BLOWS

US, 1978, 113 minutes, Colour.
Henry Brandon, Dan Haggerty.
Directed by Stewart Raffill.

When the North Wind Blows is set in Siberia. In a village in a remote area of the country, when the winter comes, two tigers come down from the mountains. A young man fosters the tigers – whereas the villagers are afraid and are vengeful should anything happen to the humans in the village. This is a family-oriented film, a focus on the tigers, their way of life, the possibility of humans relating with them.

The film was directed by Stewart Raffill, the director of a number of films for family audiences including The Adventures of the Wilderness Family, Across the Great Divide, The Sea Gypsies. He also directed the very interesting time travel film, The Philadelphia Experiment.

1. The quality of this animal film? The nature of its appeal and interest?

2. The narrative structure of the film, flashback? The creation of natural atmosphere? The use of locations and scenery colour, the seasons, wild life? The documentary tone of the film to make it convincing?

3. How did the flashback add to the aura of the film, in establishing the story, making a legend of the woodsmen and the animals? Audience response to this?

4. The portrayal of the countryside, its isolation, the town and the houses, the people? This kind of civilization as contrasted with the wilds?

5. The importance of the portrayal of the seasons, the cold, the effect on the animals coming from the mountains, the effect on the humans? Man and nature dependent on the seasons?

6. How convincing and admirable a man was the hero? His role as a hunter, his knowledge and love of animals, his being at home in the forests, his capacity for survival, clashes with animals and the wolves? The many scenes of his being pursued by animals and his rescuing himself, especially the wolves? His less successful encounters with human beings? People suspicious of him and not understanding him? How dangerous was it for him to live in the forests?

7. The film's focus on the tigers, their birth, the care of them as cubs, the death of the mother, the hero growing with the tigers? The joy of this kind of relationship with animals?

8. Comment on the realistic treatment of the themes not just mere sentimental presentation of animals, fights, violence, the savagery of the forest, food for survival?

9. What was the significance of the story of the snow tiger? Its purpose within the framework of the film?

10. The contrast with the other hunters, especially with their wanting the animals for zoos and circuses? Their several appearances, especially for the capture of the tigers? Audience response to them?

11. The hero's sadness when the tigers were taken, his daring in freeing them? The consequences of this for his life in the forests?

12. The old man from the village seeking out the hero and confronting him? Trying to understand him? The hero taking a stance for living with the animals?

13. How did the film show that the hero grew into the realm of legend? The stories told about him?

14. How instructive is this kind of film in terms of nature, animals, survival, human beings and endurance? A sympathetic understanding for this way of life?