Atanarjuat, la légende de l’homme rapide

English title: Atanarjuat, the Fast Runner

Genre: adventure drama in the wild

With: Natar Ungalaaq (Atanarjuat), Sylvia Ivalu (Atuat), Peter-Henry Arnatsiaq (Oki, chief Sauri’s son), Pakak Innuksuk (Amaqjuaq, Atanarjuat’s brother), Lucy Tulugarjuk (Puja, Oki’s sister), Eugene Ipkarnak (Sauri)

Director: Zacharias Kunuk       

Release: 2001

Studio: Igloolik Isuma Productions Inc., Aboriginal Peoples Television Network et al.

Rating: 14 A or R

MBiS score: 8.4/10

Sometimes You Should Fight, Sometimes You Should Run Away

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Story-line: in the Arctic, an unhealthy rivalry between members of a jinxed Inuit tribe gets even worse when a young woman promised to the chief’s son wants another man as her lifemate.

Pluses: superb scenes detailing traditional life in the Arctic (manual labour, hunting, igloo construction), a grandiose and riveting story based on a Northern legend, irreproachable acting, top-flight direction.

Minuses: the first half-hour may seem less interesting to us Southerners since it deals with Inuit customs and mythology but, once Atanarjuat and other characters have reached adulthood, the story takes off and doesn’t let up.  

Comments: though they worked in barren locations and with limited resources, Zacharias Kunuk and crew have achieved a miracle, a stunning film that was justifiably honoured at the Cannes Festival. For a visual and quasi-spiritual experience like no other, do see ATANARJUAT, THE FAST RUNNER.    

MBiS

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