HOME    PROGRAM    BACK MOVIE MONDAY'S 'FIRST' FIRST NATIONS FILM FESTIVAL

Friday 29 November 2002 7 p.m. Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner) (172 min., Canada, 2002, director: Zacharias Kunuk) Evil in the form of an unknown shaman divides a small community of nomadic Inuit, upsetting its balance and spirit. Twenty years pass. Two brothers emerge to challenge the evil order: Amaqjuaq, the Strong One, and Atanarjuat, the Fast Runner. Atanarjuat wins the hand of the lovely Atuat away from the boastful son of the camp leader, Oki, who vows to get even. Oki ambushes the brothers in their sleep, killing Amaqjuaq, as Atanarjuat miraculously escapes running naked over the spring sea ice. But can he ever escape the cycle of vengeance left behind?

Atanarjuat is based on an ancient Inuit legend, set in the Arctic at the dawn of the first millennium. For countless generations, Igloolik elders have kept the legend of Atanarjuat alive through oral history to teach young Inuit the dangers of setting personal desire above the needs of the group.

Atanarjuat was co-produced through the National Film Board of Canada's Aboriginal Filmmaking Program. Established in 1996, the program provides designated funds for Native filmmaker's and continues the NFB's long-standing commitment to reach out to communities traditionally underrepresented in Canadian film production.

Harry Mitsima, an Inuit carver from the Igloolik region, joined us for pre-show singing and post-screening discussion. Also before the start of the show we phoned the director the director, Zacharias Kunuk, to answer questions about his film.