Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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64 of 67 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Epic Inuit story is a cinematographic work of art, July 21, 2002
Filmed in Northern Canada in the Inuit language, this film is based on a myth that has been passed down through the generations. This isn't a documentary, it is an epic story, and all of the actors are Inuit. The cinematography is magnificent, and brings the frozen North to life as never before seen on the screen. Using an almost entirely Inuit cast and crew, with financial assistance provided by the National Film Board of Canada, it won the Camera d-Or for best feature at last year's Cannes International film Festival. It's a cinematographic work of art and an impressive film.At almost three hours long, the story takes its time to unfold. The beginning is confusing, especially for an audience with no background in the Intuit culture. It takes a while to distinguish the differences between the characters and it's hard to follow the myth of the two baby brothers, whose father was not a good hunter and was therefore ridiculed in the community. Time passes though and the two boys grow up to be strong and able men. There is murder, jealousy and revenge, with a signature scene of the central character, Atanarjuat, running for his life naked though the ice and snow. All the actors are excellent and their performances display physiological complexity. I could relate to the story despite the different cultural trappings. As the film takes place in an indeterminate past time, way before Europeans ever set foot on this land, every single tool and detail of Intuit life seems absolutely genuine. We see them building their igloos and living in them, eating raw meat, scraping animal skins, and all the other domestic chores, which provide a setting for a story. There's also humor as they make jokes and sing bawdy songs. Some of the rituals were memorable, such as when two men fight over a girl, the fight takes the shape of each one taking turns punching each other in the head. It is an anthropology lesson as well as an intriguing story and a true learning experience for me. I had to absorb it myself though as no one was holding my hand and explaining things to me, which is both the strength and the weakness of the film. I was plunged right into it, without a background to sustain me, and I had to give up on understanding every single detail and just relax and let the story happen. I loved every moment of the film - the characters, the story, and, especially the place. But I was still confused when it was over. The story seemed to be grounded in reality and yet there was talk of spirits. Some of the characters were introduced and not developed and there were places in the story where there seemed to be holes. It made me want to see it again and hope to get it right the second time. In the closing credits, there were some great shots of the cast and crew during the filming. We saw the sled mounted cameras and the way the scenes were filmed and were again introduced to each of the Intuit actors, this time clad in leather jackets and sunglasses. It made me think that there will certainly be some very special features on a future DVD, one that I might like to own. I definitely recommend this film which I saw it in a modern theater with the latest in surround sound and large screen. It's an immersion in a culture that has always fascinated me and I yearn to know more. Just be prepared for something different. Be prepared to be confused. And, mostly, be prepared to love it.
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100 of 109 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Breathtaking and Fascinating., May 6, 2002
"Atanarjuat," or "the Fast Runner," is a retelling of an ancient Inuit folk-tale. ("the Inuit" is an all-encompassing descriptor for the aboriginal tribes of northern Canada and Alaska). They have pieced together the lifestyle of their people pre-European contact using elders' knowledge, historical artifacts and journals, and legend and oral history.
This is a beautiful movie. If you've never seen snow on the vast prairie (or in this case, tundra), get ready to be shocked by the stark beauty of the North. The costumes, lifestyle details like skinning animals, hunting patterns, and social dictates, are all fascinating from a historical perspective. The "Atanarjuat" pamphlet tells me that "local artists and elders handmade all costumes, props and sets" and reiterates the film's authenticity.
That being said, this movie is also very entertaining. It tells the story of Atanarjuat and his brother, beginning before they were born, with their father's history, and of the tribe's 40-year struggle against an evil spirit. Atanarjuat and Atuat's love story is compelling and endearing, while the slow descent into conflict is frighteningly shown.
Apparently Margaret Atwood has written an article about the 3 things you should know before you see this film,...in Inuit culture, spirits are talked about and regarded in the same way as living people. Therefore, in the film, there are some spirits that help Atanarjuat on his journey, and yet they are dead. At one point, another character asks, "I thought you were dead," but they have to lie to cover for Atanarjuat. When they later accompany Atanarjuat to the village, you will notice that nobody talks to them -- because they aren't needed any longer, and are essentially "gone."
I would recommend this film for a number of reasons: If you're Canadian (like me) and wish you had more knowledge of the North and its peoples; if you're from somewhere with no snow, or not much, and would like to see some tundra and permafrost; if you're a history buff who believes in oral history, or in the combination of oral and documented history; and (and I hope we all do) if you want to see a really great epic story of betrayal and redemption.
Here are the criticisms I can see people possibly making about this film: 1) it is a scientific fact that Caucasians find it difficult to immediately identify different people from a different race (for example, you might mix up Atanarjuat and his brother). The only thing I can say to this is, the film-makers know this, so pay attention to the dialogue, and you'll get it. 2) The film is sub-titled. Well, yes. Some people hate subtitles, I've no idea why, but deal with it. I've never heard Inuktitut language before and I thought it was a great experience. I'd rather hear them pronouncing things correctly and learn a little more. Besides, the acting is magnificent. 3) The film moves slowly. Yes, this is true. But remember, at this time, there wasn't a lot else to do -- your conversation with someone might take four days, because you eat with them, sleep in the same tent as them, hunt with them. They're not going anywhere. By the same token, the slow and deliberate thought patterns and bits of dialogue can be frustrating, as we want them to speak like us and just lay everything out on the table. But that is not a part of First Nations culture, including Inuit, and they are much more likely to compact a lot of meaning into a small speech. I really can't think of anything else that would make anyone dislike this film. One of my grade 8 ex-students went and was apparently very bored; I imagine that they expected something fast moving, and full of mindless action. There is lots of violence, sex, love and death in this movie, you just have to give them credit that they know where it belongs. The music is fabulous (lots of didjeridoo and throat singing, and lots of traditional songs -- even shows singing's place in their society, fascinating to a music teacher). Go see Atanarjuat! And if you can't, rent the DVD. It will be a new experience for you. (we're now planning a summer trip to Inuvik, ...because of it).
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26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The new oral tradition, June 23, 2002
I once heard Sherman Alexie, the brilliant Coeur d'Alene author and film maker, in a conversation at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco call film the "new oral tradition." Few people sit in story circles now, but television and film are accessible to most people. Film is an excellent format to tell the old stories to the new generation. Atanarjuat, an old Igloolik legend is beautifully filmed and soulfully acted. I was completely caught up in the story and the wonder of the arctic environment . The film is visually stunning and deserving of the awards bestowed upon it. The legend of Atanarjuat, an Inuit man known as "the fast runner," is one in which the moral truths are as valuable today as they were to the early Inuit. Greed, mendacity, cruelty, disrespect for cultural and spiritual taboos, and abuse of power all cause a peaceful group of early inhabitants to suffer needlessly until circumstances finally force the balance to swing back into harmony. People who find the courage to say "enough is enough" and stand by that decision are able to bring their community into balance. They accomplish this with forgiveness but stern consequences for the guilty. I work in a gallery devoted to the art of the Canadian and Alaskan Inuit. The art allows seasoned elders and young people to earn a living and to express their memories and stories of their rich history and spiritual tradition in modern sculpture, carving, masks, prints, and textiles. I was delighted and grateful to see this film produced and acted by Inuit people. Some of the actors have never worked from a script before, but they are engaging and believable in their roles. Film is another medium for creative people to keep their stories and traditions alive. The cinematography has been lauded and deservedly so. The beauty of the arctic birds and creatures and the snow and ice are integral to the appreciation of the human story. Every frame matters. Kudos to the art department. The sets and costumes and props are all exactly right. The soundtrack is an additional delight..
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