Belgica tells the story of one of the most fascinating Antarctic expeditions during the late 19th century. The crew , including Roald Amundsen, were the first to spend the winter at the South Pole.

Even before the expedition effectively reached Antarctica, they lost a crew member during a storm. Once in Antarctica, the boat got stuck in the ice. It would be another 13 long months before, after digging a channel, the crew could free the boat and begin the journey to freedom.