Ann Bancroft ( the polar explorer, not the actress ) led the first all-women's attempt to cross 1,500 miles across Antarctica in 1993. And that grueling expedition is documented—and contrasted with efforts of two men's teams—in Greg Stiever's gripping documentary, Poles Apart, which premieres on The Sundance Channel Feb. 5, at 9 p.m.
Dubbed the American Women's Expedition, Bancroft and her team of Anne Dal Vera, Sue Giller, and Sunniva Sorby fought difficult odds from the get-go. Corporate sponsors were dubious of the women's abilities —sometimes even scrutinizing their looks and the fact that three were lesbians-—so AWE launched a grassroots campaign to raise funds, receiving a pillow full of coins which an elementary school class had collected amongst other contributions. Eventually, with money tight, they plopped down in Antarctica with their skis, 230-pound sleds, and a determination to cross Antarctica, touching the South Pole along the way.
However, sprains and other injuries in the sub-zero temperatures led to holdups and stress. Emotional breakdown even seemed likely for at least one of the women, while the threat of early withdrawal via rescue plane or even death hung over them like a dark cloud. Told through interviews, readings from Ann's diary kept during the expedition, and effective recreations, Bancroft's effort is contrasted against Sir Ranulph Fiennes' even more physically wracking, two-person attempt and Will Steger's 1986 trip ( of which Bancroft was a team member ) .
Bancroft, 38 at the time, and her mates are all articulate, distinct personalities. And director Stiever manages to piece together their gripping and involving journey. Interviews, photographs from their journey ( including some painful to witness shots of swollen ankles and frostbitten skin ) , stock footage and well-integrated recreations ( shot in 1996 on an American lake ) , and readings from Bancroft's diary entries also work well in reconstructing their journey. The team's rituals are also documented well.
Humorously and impressively, Stiever sporadically reminds us that even when rescue squads threatened to zoom in and cut their journey short, the girls weren't doing ALL THAT BAD, compared to Fiennes. Starving, suffering even more serious physical damage, Fiennes proves that gender doesn't make much of a difference when it comes to this sport.
Curiously, while the issue of lesbians amongst the troop is broached, it isn't elaborated on—indeed, we don't even know which of Bancroft's team are "family." Furthermore, barring details pertaining to past skiing experience, nothing of the womens' person lives is divulged. This does make for frustration ( and a fun guessing game if you've friends over ) , but only slight, as the immediacy of their grueling task keeps you wrapped up. The only other weakness is cheesy music which sounds like it was culled from an infomercial. But ultimately, Poles Apart is as much a triumph and rarity as its subjects' effort.
Poles Apart is part of Sundance Channel's month-long February series, "This Sporting Life." Bancroft is currently making another attempt to cross Antarctica with Norwegian Liv Arnesen. See www.yourexpedition.com .