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First Inuit feature (2001) in The Fast Runner Trilogy. Stream film or Download Trilogy (pay-what-you-can) in SD, 720p or full 1080p HD. More about this film / Atanarjuat Website
Inuit epic set in ancient Igloolik, Atanarjuat The Fast Runner is a life-threatening struggle of love, jealousy, murder and revenge between powerful natural and supernatural characters, Canada's first feature film written, produced, directed, and acted by Inuit. 2001 Camera d'or, Cannes Film Festival; Best Picture, 2002 Genie Awards; #1 Canadian Film of the Decade, Macleans, CTV.
A film by Zacharias Kunuk, Paul Apak, Norman Cohn and Pauloosie Qulitalik
YEAR OF PRODUCTION: 2001
DURATION: 172 minutes
GENRE: Drama based on historical legend
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Igloolik Isuma Productions
LANGUAGE: Inuktitut with English, French s-t
Country: Canada
Region: Igloolik; Nunavut, Canadian Arctic
Reviews
“A masterpiece.... The first national cinema of the 21st century”
A.O. Scott, NY Times
“Mysterious, bawdy, emotionally intense, and replete with virtuoso throat singing, this three-hour movie is engrossing from first image to last, so devoid of stereotype and cosmic in its vision it could suggest the rebirth of cinema.”
Jim Hoberman, Village Voice
“Nothing less than a complete revelation and reinvention of cinematic form…. a definite ‘must-see’.”
Katherine Monk, Vancouver Sun
"An astonishing epic film"
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
“Un film d'une singulière beauté”
Jean-Michel Frodon, Le Monde
“A milestone...a fascinating cultural document”
Liam Lacey, The Globe and Mail
Press Kit: requires PDF reader
Website: atanarjuat.com
Production Information
DIRECTOR(S): Zacharias Kunuk
PRODUCER(S): Zacharias Kunuk, Paul Apak Angilirq, Norman Cohn, Germaine YG Wong
WRITER(S): Paul Apak Angilirq
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Norman Cohn
SOUND RECORDIST: Richard Lavoie
EDITOR(S): Zacharias Kunuk, Norman Cohn, Marie-Christine Sarda
ORIGINAL MUSIC: Chris Crilly
COSTUMES: Michelline Ammaq, Atuat Akkitiq
PRINCIPAL CAST: Natar Ungalaaq, Sylvia Ivalu, Peter-Henry Arnatsiaq, Lucy Tulugarjuk, Madeline Ivalu, Paulossie Qulitalik, Eugene Ipkarnak
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Sally Bochner
SCREENINGS & TELEVISION:
Official Selection - Un Certain Regard -Winner Camera d'or (54th Cannes International Film Festival, May 2001)
Complete listings at the Atanarjuat companion Website
Related Links Press Kit: requires PDF reader
Website: atanarjuat.com, External Link
Lesson Plans on Sila Inuit Educational
Atanarjuat on IMDB
Atanarjuat on Rotten Tomatoes
Atanarjuat on Metacritic
Atanarjuat on Amazon
View our catalogue to order Atanarjuat Products
Distributor Information:
Isuma Distribution International c/o VTape, wandav [at] vtape [dot] org, +1.416.351.1317 fax-1509; info [at] isuma [dot] ca, +1.514.486.0707 fax-9851.
Comments
not string figures : string games !!! well you have an point Kunuk should bring thouse figures to an first place ...
does anyone know if this was based on a true story and if so, how long ago?
hi ! there is an small girl who is starting to make some string figures , it was an deception that the camera gets away from it not displaying what was an spontaneous string figure of great autenticy ... please pay more atention to what may be inuit greatest abstract art form ... string figuring still holds many secrets please share them with us please please !!!
amaising , i did not see it , where it was ?
ok... it was when atanarjuat is on the olld man that saves him . it is the old man daugther , the image is very fast only some seconds the girl has only time to do the opening of the figure ... what an great piety !
string figures ? what is that ?
hi, string figures are figures made on the hands whith an string or animal sinew ... i think ! no one realy knows why thei are made for : i would like to ask Kunuk to explain them to us one of this days ... what i do know is that is perhaps one of the most magical art around , realy fascinating thing ... probable even prehistoric !
For those who said ploddingly edited too long, get over yourselves. This is the real deal, you want entertainment in a nice little package go to Hollyrock.
Paul S; USA
This film was amazing...thank you so much for making it! It made me feel closer to my own Alutiiq people; even though our tribes are different, there are many similarities in how our ancestors lived. I lved the story, and the dedication put into making it truly authentic! Thank you again.
This film is a breath of fresh air. The same love, hate, jealousy, power struggle, family relationships, guardian deity, happen throughout all humanity regardless of where you are. Even if you live on a visually "pure" iceland like the eskimos, as long as the heart starts to conceive evil, the surrounding environment will be tainted, they go through the same life struggles as we do. This is humanity.
Film's a treasure for anthropology.
Chan
One of the very best films I've ever seen in my 47 years of living. Amazing how all the familiar vast complexities of life and relationships unfold and visit every remote
corner of human civilization. Careful what part you play when life's dramas start to unfold with family,love & community. We are more alike than we are different. The story of power, birthrights, manipulation and heroism in this movie remind of the panoramic storytelling of Shakespear.The whole panalopy of life and all of it's major players and parts are masterfully
recounted, exposed and told by the Inuit Nation.A breathtaking, beautiful and timeless tale for and about us all. Thank you.
this wasnt really that good. i guess it's cool that it was a movie based on indigineous narratives and made by the people whose culture it represents. but that doesn't change the nature of the movie being horribly shot, ploddingly edited, and ambiguously constructed. nothing about this was gripping or engaging at all.
I am sorry to read your opinion. On me, the film has had the totally opposite effect: I am speechless, I am amazed by its beauty, by the actors' play, by every little detail it is made up of, by the way it was filmed. It's got my respect.
i loved the movie. i felt the cold and also the reality
I haven't been home in winter in the north for a while now: this film makes me miss the sound the snow makes underfoot when it is properly cold. There is almost a hollow sound to it, quite loud when you crunch along in otherwise silence.
Since other people have been suggesting other movies to watch, I will too: Seven Songs from the Tundra, a Russian film from 2000, and Caravan, which I think is a French production but takes place in the Himalayas. Might be easier to find than 7 songs! Which is the first movie ever in the Nenets language by the way. It does suffer in parts from having completely inexperienced actors: Caravan has more "production values" even if it also has local actors rather than trained ones. In some ways 7 Songs... is more interesting, as the name suggests it deals with several stories so you get a wider view of the lives of the Nenets.
For fans of this trilogy, you may also want to check out a Mongolian film called Khadak. It is set during the government-sponsored destruction of the last nomadic Mongolian farmers. It is absolutely stunning, visuallyand emotionally. The musical score is haunting and not to be missed. Unfortunately, Khadak is not on this website but you may find it at your library. It is worth the search!
I love this trilogy, can't stop watching this film. I'm hoping this is just the beginning of a long career for the director.
meh
Same
What a fascinating movie from a fascinating world, seemingly so strange for us so called civilized Europeans. "Primitive tribes"? The strip shows us the opposite. Show me one mate from our rich, high leveld countries, who would manage to survive in this frosty environment for only five minutes. These amazing people I just really admire: tough, strong and kindly - while viewing my heart did turn as warm as cold it was on the set. We'll write about this remarkable film as soon as possible.
Kotofeij K. Bajun - vice editor in chief of Prussian Land Messenger (Preussischer Landbote, Germany)
this is a greattttt movieee i loveeee it very much.the soundd oooh i love the sounds in this movie.
MEP This was an incredible production and generously protrayed by the people who knew the heart and soul of the situation. Tremendously done. I am grateful to have seen it.
Simply amazing. Speechless. Thank you
an inspiring journey and experience! It will remain with me forever. Incredible work. Thank you for sharing with the world.
Sheila Gaspers
Well done... I really loved this...filmography and story were wonderful... acting was superb. True to life and the arctic.
I loved this movie. I was enthralled from beginning to end. This is no cookie-cutter holiwood movie; It's interesting, honest, unique and captivating.
I have always been facinated with the arctic. The setting for this film was beautiful. Besides the scenery, the story was amazing & the acting was excellent, especially considering that the actors are unknow & lack extensive (any?) theater/drama training. I disagree with anybody who thinks the acting was bad. For what this film maker was trying to accomplish, the mood he was tring to capture, & story he was attempting to convey, even with an all star cast & unlimited budget, I doubt Hollywood could get the same realistic feeing.
just a fabulouse film. mesmorising, im lost for words.
lets se more like this.
thanks
norman
england
Wow, what else can I say. This is one of the best movies I have seen in a very long time. I have suffered through too many mgm and imagine movies - the market is saturated with empty stories of nothing. To have the fast runner come out in a time as now, is blessing!!
Excellent movie! I rented this when it 1st came out. I really enjoyed it at the time, but when I wanted to see it again, I had forgotten the name. Anyway, I am glad I found it again & have a chance to share a great movie with my parents. Also, I didn't know there was a trilogy! I am so looking foreward to watching the rest of the films! BTW, these films might not be big budget, but everything about them, from the acting & directing, to the photography, sound, editing, etc, it is all superb quality. Hollywood could learn something from these movies.
The story is unlike anything you've heard or read. The setting couldn't be better; this film takes you away to claustrophobic igloos and the isolated Arctic wilderness. The characters are well made, with genuine good hearted people and vengeful ones. The acting, however, is horrible. There's no getting around that!
Veramente Primordiale e vero. Appartiene all'Umanità. Grazie .I migliori Auguri a Tutto il Popolo Inuit.
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