The One (2022)

The One takes an almost-unthinkable true survival story and turns it into a visceral, quietly awe-inspiring experience, the kind of film that reminds you how cinema can make endurance feel sacred. With stunning cinematography that captures both the beauty and indifference of the taiga, it builds a gripping tension not through cheap shocks, but through the steady, poignant accumulation of willpower, pain, and hope. The tone is tense and intimate—part adventure, part thriller, part human drama—anchored by a central performance that makes every small decision feel monumental. It can lean into melodrama and the timeline may feel a touch hazy at moments, but if you’re in the mood for something well-made and emotionally bracing, this one lands with the force of a miracle earned.

The One is clearly aiming for an inspiring, survival-against-the-impossible true-story drama, and when it sticks to Larisa’s raw will to live, it can be genuinely gripping. The problem is it often muddies its own momentum with a choppy timeline and ideas that feel introduced then left hanging, so the emotional build doesn’t always land. Some of the survival set pieces push into “movie miracle” territory, and the CGI and oddly modern-looking effects can pull you out of what should be a grounded period ordeal. If you want a tight, realistic survival thriller, this may frustrate you; if you can tolerate a bit of melodrama and polish issues for a resilient lead performance and a compelling premise, it’s still watchable.