Atanarjuat Atanarjuat Christopher Bushell Category="2001 films"Category="Canadian films"Category="Films shot digitally"Category="Inuit culture"[image]

Atanarjuat (or The Fast Runner) is a Canadian film, released in 2001. It was the first feature film ever written, directed and acted entirely in Inuktitut, the language of Canada's Inuit people, and was directed by Zacharias Kunuk.

The plot is based on an Inuit legend passed down through centuries of oral tradition. It is set in Igloolik, an Inuit community riven by the bitter rivalry between Atanarjuat (Natar Ungalaaq) and Oki (Peter-Henry Arnatsiaq), rivals for the hand of Atuat (Sylvia Ivalu) in marriage. After Atanarjuat wins Atuat's love, Oki commits an act of revenge, attacking Atanarjuat and his brother Amaqjuaq (Pakkak Innushuk) in their sleep on a hunting trip. Amaqjuaq is killed, but Atanarjuat escapes with the help of his unique talent: he is a fast runner, so fast that even Oki's dog sleds can't keep up.

Following his escape, Atanarjuat must embark on a journey of spiritual awareness before returning to Igloolik.

The film was Canada's top-grossing release of 2002, beating the commercial release Men with Brooms.

In 2004, the film was named to the Toronto International Film Festival's TIFF List of Canada's Top Ten Films of All Time.

Awards

Atanarjuat was one of the most successful Canadian films in history on the film festival awards scene. Awards listed in bold were won by the film. Awards not bolded are ones for which the film was nominated, but did not win.

See also

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