Alpha (2018)

If you have a thing for films that take place during the early days of modern man, then this one might be just up your alley. But be warned, if you're expecting an over the top silly spectacle like the horrendous '10,000 BC', you're in for a surprise, because 'Alpha' is a much more subdued and slower film.

Also: it's a ton more realistic.

'Alpha' is about a young hunter, Keda, who passes the tests of his tribe in order to be able to go with the other men on a hunt. They need to travel long distances and eventually come across a herd of buffalo. But then things take a turn for the worst, as Keda is hurled over the edge of a cliff and lands on a ledge, broken leg and all. The group have to abandon him without realizing he's still alive. Now Keda has to make his way home again. On the way, he injures a wolf, but rather than letting the wolf die, he takes it with him and they become a pack of their own.

So yes, this is in fact a story about how man first came to domesticate wolves, leading up to the cooperation between man and dog/wolf.

Storywise, there isn't a lot to tell, you just read the entire story. Also, you don't have to see this film for the dialogue, because what little there is, is in a language that no one speaks anymore. What this film does do, is make this journey as realistic as possible. The clothing, customs, tents, weapons, animals: it all seems very real and is in line with most of the things we have learned about ancient hunter/gatherers. That is pretty darn cool. In this respect, it falls into the area of a much older film about roughly the same sort of subject: 'La Guerre du Feu' by Jean-Jacques Annaud. True, that is about a couple of Neanderthal tribesmen looking to rekindle their lost flame (literally) and here it's about boy meets wolf, but the setup is remarkably similar. And it is a testament to 'Alpha' that it comes so close to being realistic.

The only downside to this film is that it isn't particularly memorable. I have seen this one three times so far, with some time in between and every time I rewatch it, it feels like the first time, because I can't honestly remember anything about this one, not a single scene.

You could argue that this is a good thing, but it means that on the whole, this one is fun to look at and feels good, but just doesn't stick to you as a great film should.

It is highly recommended for use in history lessons, though. Because it all makes sense and fits with historical discoveries.