Stars: Natar Ungalaq, Sylvia Ivalu, Peter Henry Arnatsiaq, Madeline Ivalu, Lucy Tulugarjuk

Director: Zacharias Kunuk

Summary: The first feature film ever to be made in the Inuktitut language, which is spoken by the Inuit tribes of Northern Canada. Based on an Inuit legend, this is the story of Atanarjuat who fights the son of a tribal chief for the hand of the beautiful Atuat... Subtitled.

The first Inuit language movie, based on an ancient legend, ATANARJUAT (THE FAST RUNNER) is the story of two generations of igloo-dwelling Inuit whose harmonious existence is disrupted by the presence of an evil spirit. Atanarjuat (Natar Ungalaaq) falls in love with Atuat (Sylvia Ivalu) who has been promised to the chief's evil-afflicted son, Oki (Peter-Henry Arnatsiaq). Meanwhile Oki's sexually voracious sister Puja (Lucy Tulugarjuk) desires Atanajurat for herself. Betrayal, seduction, and bloodshed follow. Genuinely spooky shamanistic rituals, intensely erotic moments, and an incredible chase across a melting glacier are just a few of the highlights in this three-hour debut feature of Inuit director Zacharias Kunuk. It was filmed on location in the Arctic, with an all-Inuit cast, in and out of actual igloos lit solely by seal oil lamps. The results are breathtaking: yellow and purple skies, vast ice-covered horizons and natural performances from the (mostly inexperienced) actors combine to make this a one-of-a-kind viewing experience. With equal attention paid to authenticity and narrative, ATANARJUAT emerges as both as a vital cultural document and an innovative dramatic film. ATANARJUAT was shot on digital video and transferred to 35mm.

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The Fast Runnerturns the frozen landscape of northern Canada into the stage for an adventure as sweeping as The Odysseyor Beowulf. Adapted from an Inuit legend, The Fast Runnercentres on Atanarjuat, a charismatic young hunter struggling for the affections of Atuat, who has already been promised to Oki, the son of the camp's leader. When Atuat chooses Atanarjuat, Oki seems to accept it, but later events turn his anger and hatred into a murderous spite. This story, as passionate and primal as any film noir, is framed by the daily lives of the Inuit--a struggle for survival that is both simple and vivid, foreign yet immediately understandable. No one in the cast is a professional actor, but the performances are direct and compelling, telling a story that is epic and intimate. --Bret Fetzer

Main Language:	Inuktitut
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	BBC Four Introduction, Behind The Scenes Montage, Cast And Crew Biographies, Background Information, Trailer Reel
Subtitles:	English
Year:	2001
Release Date:	August 25, 2003
Runtime:	168 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	O P T D 0029
Keywords:	Subtitled, Runner, Off, General, Fast, Drama, Schedule, Atanarjuat, Inuktitut
Genre:	Drama