A REINDEER'S JOURNEY is Full of Heart

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from writer/director Guillaume Maidatchevsky and Screen Media comes the fascinating story of Ailo from birth onward with Donald Sutherland narrating A REINDEER'S JOURNEY.

In Lapland in Finland, a young reindeer named Ailo is born in the cold but up on his feet because he lives in a world that doesn't let you wobble long. His Mom is on her own to raise her baby and get him strong enough to be able to join the herd once again. Young Ailo begins to see the world he lives in with the ever present danger, species different from himself and growing into a young reindeer with his own destiny.

A REINDEER'S JOURNEY is just an absolute delight that captured my four-year-old granddaughters attention immediately. She couldn't take her eyes off the young reindeer, the forest, snow and other animals. Yet, she wasn't the only on delighted by what was on the screen.

I've always been an avid watcher of stories about the animals that live in our world but, and perhaps it's because it is the holiday season, watching baby Ailo just made my heart melt more. Adorable from birth, watching his bond with his mother and be so curious about the world around him is everything.

The other animals from the fox, bunny, badger, white owl and the very hyperactive ermine (it is a very white, beautiful and hilarious weasel) are equally stunning to see in their own environment. This is the world these beautiful animals live in and it is almost as if watching is a weird encroachment on their privacy but I thank them for sharing.

Screen Media Ventures, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment acquires the rights to high quality, independent television series and feature films for the US and Canada. Screen Media has a library of over 1,500 television series and motion pictures and is one of the largest independent suppliers of high-quality tv series and motion pictures to US and international broadcast markets, cable networks, home video outlets and a new media venues. For more information please visit www.screenmedia.net.

A REINDEER'S JOURNEY has the Bonus Feature of Making of A REINDEER'S JOURNEY.  For more information please visit www.areindeersjourney.com.

This is the type of film that is absolutely made for families to watch together. It is a great way to bring everyone to the sofa and cuddle up watching the story of Ailo. It is a story of his struggles to survive the land he lives in, learn to be a reindeer and know when it is time to leave to begin a life all his own.

Surrounded by stunning cinematography of a location I could only dream of visiting in person, that's what filmmaking like this does. I think I'll have to add Finland to my list of places to visit. Listening to the calming and entertaining voice of Donald Sutherland is just an added bonus that certainly pleased me. He is a treasure in his own right.

In the end - every day is a new adventure!