Home 2000s 2001 Movies Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner

Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner

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Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, movie, image,

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.

Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, movie, poster,

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