Home 2000s 2001 Movies Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner

Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner

172 minutes – Drama
Release date: April 12, 2002
DVD Release date: November 19, 2002
Canadian distributor: Odeon Films

This film, the first feature-length Inuit-speaking drama ever made, tells the story of two brothers – Atanarjuat (Ungalaaq) and Amaqjuaq (Innukshuk) – who provoke Okai (Arnatsiaq), an ill-tempered husband-to-be of the beautiful Ataut (Ivalu). When Atuat decides to marry Atanarjuat instead, it sets in motion a chain of events that eventually leads to betrayal and murder. Despite being shot on digital video, Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner) is epic – even Shakespearean – in scope, culminating in an astounding twenty-minute sequence as Atanarjuat races naked across melting ice flows, pursued by the murderous Okai. An authentic recreation by Zacharias Kunuk of an oral tale told over thousands of years, the film demystifies the exotic, otherworldly Aboriginal stereotype by telling a powerful, universal story. It was given Genie Awards for Picture, Director, Screenplay, Editing, and Musical Score. It also won the Claude Jutra Award for first-time feature directors, and won a Caméra D’Or at Cannes. Northernstars.ca chose Atanarjuat as one of its Top 10 Canadian Films of the Decade in December 2009.

Also see: From The Edge of the Earth – an article from our Take One archives.
Production still and poster courtesy of Odeon Films.


	Crew:
	Producer:	Paul Apak Angilirq Norman Cohn Zacharias Kunuk Germaine Wong
	Executive Producer:	Sally Bochner
	Director:	Zacharias Kunuk
	Screenwriter:	Paul Apak Angilirq Norman Cohn Zacharias Kunuk Herve Paniaq Pauloosie Qulitalik
	Cinematographer:	Norman Cohn
	Editor:	Norman Cohn Zacharias Kunuk Marie-Christine Sarda
	Composer:	Chris Crilly
	Cast:	Roles:
	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 Akkitiq 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 Andrew Micheli	Atanarjuat Atuat, wife of Atanarjuat Oki Puja Panikpak Qulitalik / A shaman Sauri, the chief Amaqjuaq Uluriaq Tungajuaq Kumaglak Niriuniq Pittiulak Pakak Young Sauri Young Tulimaq Young Pittaluk Young Panikpak Young Qulitalik Sauri`s wife Young Sauri`s wife Young Qulitalik`s wife Sigluk Asa Uttuqiaq Saku Tulimaq Pittaluk Oki`s wife Pittiulak`s wife Young Sigluk Young Sigluk`s wife Young Uttuqiaq Young Uttuqiaq`s wife Qillaq Elder lady Elder lady Child Kigutikaajuk Child Kumaglak Child Amaqjuat Child Oki Baby Atanarjuat Child Child Child Child Child Child Child