Map of the Human Heart (1993)

A Masterpiece!

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

This film reflects its international pedigree. Canadian films are wonderful when viewed in their "language" and film syntax, kind of a cross between French & English & Australian films in caprice, intelligence, plot development, and subjects. American movie goers and film watchers (and Reviewers here) find something missing or too over-the-top in Canadian projects, wherever they're financed. "Snow Walker" was good but not "Hollywood." "Battle of the Brave" was good; not exactly Hollywood. "Map of the Human Heart;" very, very good in its own vernacular. Very good - and moving and thought-provoking, and so on ..."Map..." has a love scene that could have come from the mind & imagination of Spielberg. Though not long or overly explicit, it may be one of the most unique and remarkable and perfectly contextual in all of film. Beautiful. Watch and see, near, or in, the 3rd Act.Annie Galipeau is young here, and good, and presages her role in "Grey Owl" with Pierce Brosnan.Thanks MIRAMAX for putting money into risky, off-the-worn-sprocket-hole projects.

I absolutely adore this film and was overjoyed when it eventually became available on DVD. But was rather disappointed that they have never released a directors cut, I remember when it first came out there was a 4-5 hour version show at the Venice or Berlin film festival, I still have the cutting of a review from the screening and the writer was totally blown away by it and commented that it deserved to be released uncut. But back then as we know now people weren't prepared to sit in a cinema for that long, but now with the advent of DVD and everyone basically wanting a cinema at home with large plasma and 5.1 sound, its great that you are now getting the choice to see these gems as they were originally envisioned, its a real shame as i personally feel that this was a highlight of everyone involved in this movie, and is wards best movie, you also can tell when watching it that there is a lot of stuff missing, especially in the cuts from scene to scene. I don't think that a couple of deleted scenes was enough on the DVD, and the score is totally amazing,why no isolated track, try and get a hold of it if you can, it took me nearly 11 years to get my hands on it, eventually gave up hope of ever finding it and by pure chance found it in a second hand store in a tiny village called Comrie in Scotland, it was fate i think,paid 10p for it on cd, its by Gabriel Yared and is amazing.Anyway buy it on DVD its worth it and i cant ever see them releasing it uncut unfortunately, unless they ever release a vincent ward box set, now that would be worth buying. Anyone know of any other version available then please post comment.

Map of the Human Heart is a rare film which is both haunting and beautiful as well as filled with the violence of man against man and nature. It's lead actors, Jason Scott Lee (Avik) and Annie Parlliaud (Albertine) play aboriginals of Canada who are both outcasts by their mixed-blood status in the respective communities, Inuit and Cree, providing insight to the ancient animosity between native groups that shatter the positive stereotype and myth of egalitarian indigenous tribes living in harmony before western contact. In fact, the theme of conflict repeats throughout this fine, little film and provides the backdrop for the love story of Avik and Albertine in WWII England.Discovered as a small boy by a military mapmaker on expedition to his community, Avik, aka "Holy Boy" is drawn to the officer who removes him from his village, a typical action by intrusive, well-intentioned outsiders. Removed to a Catholic run native hospital for treatment, Avik meets the Cree Indian girl, Albertine, a patient with tuberculosis. Historically, the two native groups are ancient enemies, and the children inherited this long-standing animosity without knowing anything of the other until they realize a shared situation and experience. As Avik and Albertine's friendship blossoms, their childhood devotion turns to first love. Avik steals Albertine's x-ray of her damaged lungs and heart which he carries with him into adulthood. The children attempt to run away from the hospital but are thwarted by adult authorities and their separation begins the second half of the film.When the adult Avik returns to his native village to care and provide for his elderly grandmother, he is an unsuccessful as a provider, something seen as a curse to others of the village as well as his grandmother. She realizes Avik must be set free from the ancient ways of native life and commits suicide, a sacrifice of herself for Avik's future. Time and the setting jumps to WWII London where a grown up Albertine is now married to the same British officer who was Avik's liberator. She works with the security branch of the British Army and her unit is responsible to identify sites from the aerial maps for bombing runs turned in by bomber crews. While at work, she reads the name of one of the planes, the "Holy Boy" the childhood name for Avik and reunites with her childhood companion. Their love is rekindled in one of the most memorable settings -- the Royal Albert Hall dome -- where Avik and Albertine escape.The film revels in unlikely settings to situate it's stars adding to the visual and physical splendor of Albertine and Avik's love. From the Royal Albert Hall, to an aerial blimp over the White Horse Vale where they consummate their passion, the cinematography is stunning! Contrasted against this splendor is the reality of the war. The missions to destroy cities and ultimately humans is carnage in acts of violence that is the reality of war. Avik, faced with Albertine's marriage to the man who changed his life, confronts the mapmaker, a jealous controlling man. Albertine's passionate love for Avik is unbearable and he orders Avik's unit back to the "Holy Boy" to take part in one last run that is the controversial bombing of Dresden, Germany. A city acknowledged as a cultural treasure and not factory of Nazi ammunitions manufacture, Dresden was off-limits to bombing runs by Allied troops. However, the hatred for Avik and Albertine's love drives the mapmaker to order the firebombing of Dresden, with the participation of the "Holy Boy." Shot down during the offensive, Avik parachutes into Dresden as the flame offensive engulfs the city. Trying to save a child from the flames, Avik drops the x-ray of Albertine's heart, a symbol of his constant devotion and love, in the conflagration. The conclusion of the film is a heart-wrenching resolution that remains true to the storyline and by the end, the story comes full-circle. The film remains little known but is a captivating romantic adventure which should have received more recognition for both originality and camera-work. It is worthy of attention and delivers with thoughtful commentary on the human heart, loyalty, and hatred.

I decided to watch this based on a strong recommendation from a friend, and am now debating whether or not she is my friend at all. This movie, as another reviewer alluded to, is actually painful to watch. I would have never finished it except I wanted to be knowledgeable about what a putrid film it is so I could write an accurate review. The only aspect of the film that is even passable is the cinematography, which, though dark, does a consistently good job of telling the story. Every single other aspect of the film (the acting, the story, the dialogue, the sound mixing, the sound dubbing) is just a disgrace to the art of film-making. The sound dubbing is so ridiculously bad that I was starting to wonder if this was a foreign language flick (honestly). The words NEVER match up to the lips; not even on accident. The story is implausible (a poor man's "Legends of the Fall"), filled with every concievable cliché. The characters are underwritten cardboard cut-outs, which at least partially explains the poor acting. I can't say enough bad things about this film, but do yourself a favor and avoid it like the plague! Life is too short.