The Journals of Knud Rasmussen (2006)

A portrayal of the lives of the last great Inuit shaman, Avva, and his beautiful and headstrong daughter, Apak. Based on the journals of 1920s Danish ethnographer Knud Rasmussen.

Directors:

Norman Cohn, Zacharias Kunuk

Writers:

Eugene Ipkarnak (Inuktitut dialogue), Madeline Ivalu (Inuktitut dialogue),

Stars:

Pakak Innuksuk, Leah Angutimarik, Neeve Irngaut

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Pakak Innuksuk	...	Aua
Leah Angutimarik	...	Apak
Neeve Irngaut	...	Orulu
Natar Ungalaaq	...	Nuqallaq
Samueli Ammaq	...	Umik
Peter-Henry Arnatsiaq	...	Natar
Catherine Alaralak	...	Kigutikaajuk
Abraham Ulayuruluk	...	Evaluarjuk
Jens Jørn Spottag	...	Knud Rasmussen
Kim Bodnia	...	Peter Freuchen
Jakob Cedergren	...	Therkel Mathiassen
Tommy Uttak	...	Taparte
Apayata Kotierk	...	Anguillianuk
Cora Akkitirq	...	Spirit
Racheal Uyarasuk	...	Spirit

Storyline

The last great shaman of the Inuit Avva and his beautiful and headstrong daughter Apak lives on the verge of change in 1922. As the father is trying to resist the changes encroaching upon his family and culture, a group of Danish scientists arrive to study and record his way of life.

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Plot Keywords:

inuit | shaman | religion | nudity | custom | 

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Taglines:

Once a shaman abandons his faith, there is no turning back.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site Production Site

Country:

Canada Denmark Greenland

Language:

Inuktitut English Danish

Release Date:

10 November 2006 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Le journal de Knud Rasmussen

Filming Locations:

Igloolik, Nunavut, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Igloolik Isuma Productions Inc., Kunuk Cohn Productions, Barok Film A/S

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Opening film for 2006 Toronto International Film Festival.

User Reviews

A "slow" film but with powerful effect

As I expected, The Journals of Knud Rasmussen was a "slow" film but I found it to be very powerful. I saw it at the Toronto International Film Festival at a Press and Industry screening.

The Journals of Knud Rasmussen is a true story of first contact with Europeans and the family and historical tensions that arise. It gave a powerful sense of the old Inuit life of tradition and superstition. The first scene was an evocative camera's-eye view of an Inuit family preparing themselves to be photographed which faded into a black and white still. As the end credits rolled photographs of the historical characters were shown.

Throughout the film I had a real sense of being in the place and in the time. The plot mixed the real and supernatural worlds intermixed frequently, which required a fair amount of concentration on the viewer's part.