They are naturals at acting, not because they're good at lying but because they can't be phony.
90
Washington PostDesson Thomson
Washington PostDesson Thomson
The dance between authenticity and storymaking works beautifully.
88
Chicago TribuneJohn Petrakis
Chicago TribuneJohn Petrakis
Most of the performers have limited acting experience, but they are perfect for their parts, exhibiting the courage, stamina and wariness essential to live in such a harsh environment.
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
A film of unusual visual beauty and enormous intrinsic interest.
75
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
The plot is woven from minutely observed details that beautifully evoke a rarely seen world.
70
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
(Valli) brings an ethnographer's eye for detail to a plot that amounts to little more than the good old generation gap.
Somehow, in spite of the stunning vistas and some witty and affecting moments, the story seems to unfold at a distance; the human drama is diminished by the setting rather than amplified by it.