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Restless River

Languages:
Inuktitut
English
French 

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Kuujjuaq, Nunavik 1940s. Surprised at the loss of her innocence, the young Inuk Elsa draws courage from her rugged land to become a woman as strong and independent as the restless river that cuts across it. She becomes the very young mother of a child whose remarkable life breaks with the millennial traditions of her ancestors. Navigating the social norms of the colonizers and the reality of her own family situation, the dreariness of a relationship that is not right for her and the rebellion of her teenage son, Elsa’s path follows the winding course of the indomitable river that accompanies her every turn in life.  

Kuujjuaq, Nunavik dans les années 1940. Surprise par la perte de son innocence, la jeune Inuk Elsa tire son courage de sa terre ardue pour devenir une femme aussi forte et indépendante que la rivière qui traverse le territoire. Elle devient la toute jeune maman d’un enfant dont la vie remarquable est en rupture avec les traditions millénaires de ses ancêtres. Évoluant entre les normes établies par les colonisateurs, la réalité vivante de sa propre famille, la qualité d’une relation qui n’est pas correcte pour elle et la révolte de son fils adolescent, le destin d’Elsa suit le cours venteux de la rivière indomptable qui accompagne chaque étape de sa vie.

A production of Les Productions MH Cousineau and Arnait Video Productions.
Produced with the participation of Telefilm Canada, SODEC, Nunavut Film Development Corporation, The Harold Greenberg Fund, Tax Credit Quebec and Tax Credit Canada.

Running time: 99 minutes.
 

Starring:
Malaya QAUNIRQ CHAPMAN as Elsa
Etua SNOWBALL Isaki
with
Taqraliq PARTRIDGE as Winnie
Matthew YORK Jimmy (young)
Nick SERINO Jimmy (teenager)
Magalie LÉPINE-BLONDEAU Ms. Beaulieu
Patrick HIVON Mr. Beaulieu


Director Marie-Hélène COUSINEAU
in collaboration with Madeline IVALU
Screenplay Marie-Hélène COUSINEAU
in collaboration with Madeline IVALU
Producer Marie-Hélène COUSINEAU
Co-Producers Madeline IVALU; Lucy TULUGARJUK
Director of Photography Edith LABBÉ
Editor Michel GROU
Original Music Vanessa MARCOUX

 

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