If good intentions made for good movies, then "Heart of Light" would at least be a pretty good one.
But movies rarely work out that way. Though its heart is definitely in the right place, this low-key fantasy/drama — the first feature shot completely in Greenland — tries a little too hard to be profound, even when that occurs at the expense of consistent characterization.
As a consequence, the film feels as remote as the wilderness in which much of it takes place. And that's a major mistake, considering that this probably should be a character-driven piece; if you can't get your audience to feel anything for the characters, any film is a hard sell.
One thing "Heart of Light" does offer is an interesting premise: Greenlander Rasmus Lynge (played by similarly named newcomer Rasmus Lyberth) heads off into the remote, icy countryside seeking spiritual guidance.
The hard-drinking hunter is seeking solace after his eldest son goes on a killing spree and then commits suicide — all with the same gun, a rifle given to Rasmus by his father, who received it as part of a Danish colonialization ceremony.
Instead, what he finds is a mystery — in the person of a rather wild-looking hermit (Anda Kristiansen), who questions Rasmus about the gun's origins, and who eventually brings the man face to face with his real heritage.
First-time director Jacob Gronlykke (who co-wrote the script) does have some interesting ideas here — at one point, the film threatens to become a treatise on cultural imperialism. Unfortunately, he doesn't have quite enough skill or style to pull off such a tricky endeavor.
However, he does get decent performances from his cast. While Lyberth doesn't exactly have matinee looks, he is a refreshing presence, even though his character isn't written warmly enough to melt this too-chilly movie.
"Heart of Light" is not rated but would probably receive an R for violent gunplay and menace, female nudity and some crude sexual references and questionable humor.