[1] The film explores the fate of the doomed mission, including John Rae's efforts to uncover the truth, and Lady Franklin's campaign to defend her late husband's reputation.
The film also features Inuit statesman Tagak Curley, who challenges claims made by Lady Franklin supported by her powerful friend, the story teller[2] and "famous author Charles Dickens", widely reported at the time, that Aboriginal people were responsible for the signs of cannibalism among the remains of the doomed crew.
The first shows John Walker and crew making an historical fiction film Fatal Passage with a screenplay by Andrew Rai Berzins.
It includes historical narratives illustrated with paintings, cast and crew visiting the places Rae knew (Orkney, the Arctic), Inuit culture, and interviews with experts.
It won two awards at the Atlantic Film Festival: Best Director-John Walker and Best Cinematography-Kent Nason and Nigel Markham.