Endurance film review: a tale of two expeditions

14/10/2024

Shackleton’s iconic ship Endurance was found in 2022 and is now in the care of UKAHT following a conservation management plan devised in collaboration with Historic England. The story of the wreck’s discovery is told in a new film which premiered at the BFI London Film Festival last weekend.

In a legendary feat of leadership and perseverance, polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton kept his crew of 27 men alive for over a year despite the loss of their ship in pack ice. Over a century later, a team of modern-day explorers set out to find the sunken ship. From National Geographic Documentary Films and directed by Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin and Natalie Hewit, Endurance tells the inspiring stories of these two landmark expeditions, bound by their shared grit and determination.

Frank Hurley’s colour-treated image of Shackleton (BFI/Frank Hurley)

Cutting-edge AI technology allowed filmmakers to do something never before done in the annals of adventure documentaries. They used archive recordings of the voices of Shackleton and six of his crew members, and Respeecher – a Ukraine-based speech synthesis software company – to adapt the recordings so the men could “read” their diary entries from the 1914 voyage and rescue. 

The result is an incredible achievement in storytelling. The dramatic diary readings accompany archive images courtesy of the Royal Geographical Society and astonishing archive footage of Shackleton and his team’s heroics, taken by expedition photographer Frank Hurley, which has been restored and lightly colourised by the British Film Institute.

The filmmakers at the premiere (UKAHT)

The premiere was attended by UKAHT’s Chief Executive, Camilla Nichol; Chair of Trustees, Kim Crosbie; and Head of Buildings and Conservation, Ruth Mullett, following an invitation from the filmmakers.

“Endurance is a remarkable film which really brought home once more to me the merciless power of Antarctica and how it will do its will despite the most heroic human and technological efforts – yet sometimes, just sometimes we might prevail as Shackleton did and as did the modern team. It reinforces once more to me how important the protection of the wreck of Endurance is for current and future generations so that this incredible story might be told and retold. It is a precious responsibility we have at UKAHT for that protection and I am certain this film will inspire the world to help us in that endeavour.”
– Camilla Nichol, Chief Executive, UKAHT

Members of UKAHT were invited to the premiere (UKAHT)

“Endurance was a brilliant, suspenseful retelling of one of the legendary tales of adventure against the odds. If you know the story, the newly coloured footage, new details and incredible deep sea footage of the wreck and the challenges finding it was gripping. If you don’t know the story, then you are in for an epic hour and forty-five minutes of inspirational, true-life adventure and storytelling. We are so proud that UKAHT is a small part of the next phase of the story as we take over the conservation management of the wreck going forward."
– Kim Crosbie, Chair of Trustees, UKAHT

“Endurance is a feat of digital mastery, seamlessly blending footage from cutting-edge deep-sea exploration with re-worked archival treasures to reimagine the loss and discovery of Shackleton’s iconic ship. Newly colourised footage by Frank Hurley and recreated voices of the crew are interwoven with breathtaking underwater images of the wreck and expert commentary from the Endurance22 team. The result is an unforgettable visual and historical experience.”
– Ruth Mullett, Head of Buildings and Conservation, UKAHT

In addition to the London premiere, there are also regional screenings across the UK this week. Visit endurance.film for more information and to book tickets. 

Endurance: Behind the Lens

Endurance: Behind the Lens, was the first in our fourth season of free online talks: Antarctica In Sight: Live!

In conversation with UKAHT's Chief Executive, Camilla Nichol, Endurance director Natalie Hewit will share her experiences of searching for Shackleton’s wreck, her insights about Shackleton’s extraordinary expedition and the many challenges of filmmaking in Antarctica. 

Get the book

Endurance: The Discovery of Shackleton's Legendary Ship is the thrilling firsthand account of the expedition coauthored by its leader and deputy leader, John Shears and Nico Vincent. This is the first and only book to fully document the discovery, it is due to be published in the UK on 5 November but is available to pre-order on the UKAHT website.

Pre-order the accompanying book from the UKAHT (National Geographic Society)

When you shop with UKAHT you support our conservation work, help us to share the continent’s ever-evolving stories and inspire others to experience Antarctica through innovative technology, art and culture.

Pre-order the book

Want to know more?

We are proud to have developed the Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for Shackleton’s Endurance. Led by UKAHT, in partnership with Historic England, the CMP acts as a shared vision and framework to inspire an international effort to protect and promote understanding of Endurance, for current and future generations. 

The CMP is available in full as an ongoing resource, along with lots more information on the shipwreck, to view on our dedicated partner site, enduranceshipwreck.org.

Last year, award-winning history broadcaster and best-selling author Dan Snow joined Alok Jha on our acclaimed podcast A Voyage to Antarctica. He spoke to Alok about being part of the Endurance22 mission and what it was like to witness the extraordinary moment Sir Ernest Shackleton’s lost ship was found at the bottom of the Weddell Sea. You can listen to the podcast below or find it on all major podcast platforms including Acast, Apple and Spotify.

Lead image: Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust/James Blake