DIRECTED BY MARIE-HÉLÈNE COUSINEAU & MADELINE PIUJUQ IVALU

“Visually transfixing. A mystical evocation of the power of Inuit mythology.”
– Stephen Holden, The New York Times

“CRITICS’ PICK! Profound. Transcendently beautiful moments of emotion. Shares breathtaking imagery and even-handed direction with its predecessor (THE FAST RUNNER).”
– Miranda Siegel, New York magazine

“Madeline Invalu who co-directed with Marie-Helene Cousineau... |
is nearly too remarkable for compliments… After this 93-minute film is finished, one astonishment is that, though it has been utterly gripping, the story was less than minimal... The very simplicity of the story holds us, makes us almost ashamed to raise questions, as if we were cross-examining an ancient myth. The fascination is increased by the very fact that this is an enacted film.
The people are so at ease that we are bewitched by the knowledge that this is not a documentary...
their authenticity, the dailiness of what they do, is the fabric of the work.”
– Stanley Kauffmann, The New Republic

“Worth seeing if only for its scrumptious aesthetic –
the sun setting on a tranquil river is beautiful to behold.”
– V. A. Musetto, New York Post

“Something of a racially-inverted, north-of-the-border Western.”
– Andrew Schenker, Village Voice

“Resonant... endowed with a rich humanity and an almost heroic stoicism.”
– Greg Quill, Toronto Star

“Stunning! A Must-See! Re-imagines Canada's wilderness legacy
from a distinctly Aboriginal point of view."
– Jesse Wente, CBC Radio

The lilting ballads of Kate and Anna McGarrigle set the tone for this tender, affecting tale of a small boy and his beloved grandmother, mid-19th century Inuits, living amid the harsh Arctic wilderness. “A profound, elemental and hauntingly beautiful period drama that makes an intimate story of endurance into a metaphor for an entire culture… The deceptively simple script…brilliantly reflects the cultural and spiritual values of the Inuits. In particular, the traditional stories Ningiuq tells her grandson take on a heart-rending resonance. Graced by unadorned performances from Madeline Ivalu (a featured player in THE FAST RUNNER and THE JOURNALS OF KNUD RASMUSSEN), her real-life grandson and the supporting cast… (The acting) feels appropriately timeless yet emotionally precise… Superior craft contributions emphasize tradition and authenticity, from the well-worn caribou and seal-skin clothing and intricate facial tattoos to elaborate period props.” — Alissa Simon, Variety

• Offical film website
• Listen to our podcast: Q & A with co-director MARIE-HÉLÈNE COUSINEAU
  (Recorded December 2, 2009)

CANADA • 2008 • 93 MINS. • IN INUKTITUT WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES • Filmsource Information
Co-presented with the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian