Cusack plays the cartographer in this film by New Zealand filmmarker Vincent Ward. The film is successful in conveying the extent of our hearts' capacity for love in the face of unparalleled amounts of pain. Mapping is used as a metaphor to capture the destruction that's recently emerged as a focal point in the lives of the two main characters: Avik (Jason Scott Lee) and Albertine (Ann Parillaud).

Cusack's role is to have the story of the two main characters told to him. He's the vehicle through which the action can flashback or forward from. Both Avik and Albertine are half-breeds (Eskimo and Indian) who meet at a Montreal hospital. At first, they are not inclined to like each other but once they work through that they are become very close. Unfortunately, they are separated and the film forwards to WWII.

The star-crossed lovers meet again, thirty years later and there is an exposure of the nature of non-whites trying to pass for white and the issue of the unrequited love. There are some ambitious plot turns and twists; all rendered to attempt explore the nature of 'civilization' and what is appropriate behavior.

It's an ambitious project that succeeds in some pursuits. For instance, the imagery is dazzling. The tone is accomplished, moody and haunting.