NFB Collection
Atanarjuat the Fast Runner
20002 h 41 min 8 secFilm: Fiction, Feature-length fiction
Direction: Zacharias Kunuk
Production: Paul Apak Angilirq (Igloolik Isuma Productions Inc.)Norman CohnZacharias KunukSally BochnerGermaine Ying Gee Wong (National Film Board of Canada)
Script: Paul Apak Angilirq
Produced by Igloolik Isuma Productions Inc. in co-production with the National Film Board of Canada, and with the participation of Telefilm Canada, the Canadian Television Fund, Channel 24 Igloolik, Vision TV, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network and the Government of Canada Tax Credit, and additional assistance from the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Baffin Business Development Centre, the Kakivak Association, the Canada Council, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., First Air and the CBC.
This adaptation of an ancient Inuit legend was filmed in Inuktitut and directed by Inuit filmmakers - making Atanarjuat the first feature film of its kind!
Set in Igloolik, in Nunavut, this is "a powerful drama, not a documentary," reminds the director Kunuk. "It demystifies the exotic, otherwordly aboriginal stereotype by telling a universal story." The clothes, spears, kayaks, sunglasses and dwellings were all painstakingly researched. "We show how our ancestors dressed, how they handled their dog teams, how they argued and laughed.. confronted evil and fought back."
Many enthusiastic viewers have compared this epic story to The Iliad. In the words of one movie critic, "If Homer had been given a video camera, this is what he would have done!"
In Inuktitut, with English subtitles.
Availability
Other versions
Subject categories
- Literature and Language > Indigenous Traditional Stories
- Literature and Language - Canada > Inuit Traditional Stories
- Indigenous Peoples in Canada (Inuit) > Northwest Territories, Nunavut and YukonTraditional stories
- Indigenous Studies > Identity/Society
- Family Studies/Home Economics > Relationships
- Geography > Territory: Indigenous
Credits
- writer
- Paul Apak Angilirq
- director
- Zacharias Kunuk
- photography
- Norman Cohn
- editor
- Zacharias Kunuk
- Norman Cohn
- Marie-Christine Sarda
- design
- James Ungalaaq
- original music
- Chris Crilly
- producer
- Paul Apak Angilirq
- Norman Cohn
- Zacharias Kunuk
- Germaine Ying Gee Wong
- executive producer
- Sally Bochner
- cast
- Natar Ungalaaq
- Sylvia Ivalu
- Peter Henry Arnatsiaq
- Lucy Tulugarjuk
- Madeline Ivalu
- Pauloosie Qulitalik
- Eugene Ipkarnak
- Pakak Innuksuk
- Neeve Irngaut
- Abraham Ulayuruluk
- Apayata Kotierk
- Mary Qulitalik
- Luke Taqqaugaq
- Alex Uttak
- Eric Nutarariaq
- Stephen Qrunnut
- Pipily Akkitirq
- Mary Angutautuk
- Charlie Qulitalik
- Atuat Akkitirq
- Catherine Alaralak
- Susan Kublu
- Samueli Ammaq
- Micheline Ammaq
- Lucien Ukkalianuk
- Therese Ukkalianuk
- Felix Alaralak
- Elizabeth Nutarakittuq
- Jenny Irngaut
- Rita Ijjiraq
- Andrew Uyarasuk
- Cindy Paniaq
- Lou Paula Kunuk
- Maggie Ukkalianuk
- Arsene Ivalu
- Racheal Uyarasuk
- Catherine Arnatsiaq
- Reena Qulitalik
- Bernice Ivalu
- Mark Alaralak
- Isa Akkitirq
- Laurent Arnatsiaq
- Isa Ammaq
- Cora Akkitirq
- Steven Akkitirq
- Wilma Ammaq
- Daniel Akkitirq
- Hayley-June Ammaq
- Colleen Ulayuruluk
- Tarcisius Taqqaugaq
- Raymond Taqqaugaq
- production manager
- Norman Cohn
- assistant director
- James Ungalaaq
- Pakak Innuksuk
- additional writer
- Herve Paniaq
- Norman Cohn
- Zacharias Kunuk
- Pauloosie Qulitalik
- story consultant
- Anne Frank
- script editor
- Anne Frank
- Norman Cohn
- song
- Emile Immaroitok
- Abraham Ulayuruluk
- elder advisor
- George Kappianaq
- Annie Kappianaq
- Eulalie Angutimarik
- Elizabeth Nutarakittuq
- Mary Tinashlu
- Atuat Akkitirq
- camera
- Norman Cohn
- camera assistant
- Ike Ungalaaq
- Brian Nutarariaq
- Andrew Uyarasuk
- Donald Ittuksarjuat
- Benjamin Satuqsi
- sound recordist
- Richard Lavoie
- sound assistant
- Ike Ungalaaq
- Brian Nutarariaq
- Aimona Akkitirq
- Johnny Qumangat
- props supervisor
- James Ungalaaq
- assistant props
- Stephen Qrunnut
- prop maker
- Apayata Kotierk
- James Ungalaaq
- Cain Iqqaqsaq
- Enookie Kunuk
- Abraham Ulayuruluk
- Natar Ungalaaq
- Nathan Qamaniq
- Samueli Ammaq
- Peter Henry Arnatsiaq
- sealskin tents
- Racheal Uyarasuk
- continuity
- Amelia Angilirq
- production coordinator
- Raymond Taqqaugaq
- production accountant
- Jocelyne Loiselle
- wardrobe manager
- Micheline Ammaq
- costume supervisor
- Atuat Akkitirq
- design assistant
- Simeonie Ukkalianuk
- seamstress
- Elisapi Angutirjuaq
- Theresia Taqqaugaq
- Therese Ukkalianuk
- Susan Avingaq
- Iga Attagutaalukuttuk
- Vivi Kunuk
- Deporah Qaunaq
- Leah Atarjuat
- Leah Taqqaugaq
- hair consultant
- Bob Pritchard
- makeup consultant
- Bob Pritchard
- hair
- Therese Ipkarnak
- makeup
- Therese Ipkarnak
- makeup assistant
- Susan Kublu
- Sidonie Ungalaaq
- camp leader
- Nathan Qamaniq
- Apayata Kotierk
- dog wrangler
- Samueli Ammaq
- Peter Henry Arnatsiaq
- cook
- Charlie Auksaq
- Sidonie Auksaq
- William Kopak
- Mary Qulitalik
- Lucien Ukkalianuk
- Sidonie Ungalaaq
- day care
- Sidonie Ungalaaq
- Hannah Siakuluk
- Jeannie Angilirq
- Racheal Angutautok
- special effects services
- Walter Klassen
- stills photographer
- Viviane Delisle
- Marie-Hélène Cousineau
- website manager
- Katarina Soukup
- assistant editor
- Laurent Arnatsiaq
- sound post supervisor
- Chris Crilly
- sound effects editor
- Don Ayer
- dialogue editor
- Nathalie Fleurant
- foley artist
- Andy Malcolm
- Goro Koyama
- foley assistant
- Rebecca Wright
- foley mixer
- Ron Mellegers
- ADR recordist
- Henry, Jr Godding
- re-recording mixer
- Serge Boivin
- Jean Paul Vialard
- music recordist
- Eric Lemoyne
- sampling
- Peter Spoecker
- David Doolittle
- Dolby sound consultant
- Thomas Kodros
- online editor
- Alexandre Domingue
- video on-line
- Multivet Media
- digital to film transfer
- Digital Film Group
Awards
- Caméra d'or- Un Certain RegardInternational Film Festival