Nankyoku Monogatari (南極物語?, literally "South Pole Story", released in the U.S. as Antarctica) is a 1983 Japanese film directed by Koreyoshi Kurahara and starring Ken Takakura. Its plot centers on the 1958 ill-fated Japanese scientific expedition to the South Pole, its dramatic rescue from the impossible weather conditions on the return journey, the relationship between the scientists and their loyal and hard-working Karafuto Dogs, particularly the lead dogs Taro and Jiro, and fates of the 15 dogs left behind to fend for themselves.
As of 2007, the film is available on DVD in Japan (Japanese subtitles) and Hong Kong (Chinese and English subtitles). The original electronic score was created by Greek musician Vangelis, who had recently written music for Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner. The soundtrack is available worldwide on CD-audio as Antarctica.
Nankyoku Monogatari's plot was adapted into the 2006 Disney movie Eight Below.
In 2011, a Japanese drama titled Nankyoku Tairiku centers around Japan's first expedition to Antarctica in 1958.
Read more about Nankyoku Monogatari: Plot, Cast, Production, Release and Reception, Data, Original Score Album, Fate of Taro and Jiro