Zacharias Kunuk, after pioneering Inuit and Nunavut cinema in 2001 with his acclaimed Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, hasn't had much luck replicating that critical success. That's understandable. Atanarjuat was a hit, but even after, getting a film off the ground in tiny Nunavut remains an uphill battle; Maliglutit is only his third feature in 15 years.
It doesn't totally disappoint. The landscapes and scenery offer a goldmine for cinematographers, production designers and directors, and they successfully utilize those resources. The actors and actresses are mostly novices (vets Natar Ungalaaq and Lucy Tulugarjuk stayed largely behind the scenes on this one) but do well; in fact I think the performances here are better than Atanarjuat's. Alas, at only 90 minutes, Maliglutit still somehow manages to drag at times; too much sitting around, looking around, in silence. You almost want to yell at them, "Get on that ice and run, and search! What's the title of this movie?"
Even after that, the ending feels abrupt. Kill the bad guy, and after the elder's brief, banal non-advice ("Keep going in hard times"), credits roll. Pacing is the issue here, and contemplation should have been saved for the ending, not strewn throughout the film where it didn't belong.
It doesn't totally disappoint. The landscapes and scenery offer a goldmine for cinematographers, production designers and directors, and they successfully utilize those resources. The actors and actresses are mostly novices (vets Natar Ungalaaq and Lucy Tulugarjuk stayed largely behind the scenes on this one) but do well; in fact I think the performances here are better than Atanarjuat's. Alas, at only 90 minutes, Maliglutit still somehow manages to drag at times; too much sitting around, looking around, in silence. You almost want to yell at them, "Get on that ice and run, and search! What's the title of this movie?"
Even after that, the ending feels abrupt. Kill the bad guy, and after the elder's brief, banal non-advice ("Keep going in hard times"), credits roll. Pacing is the issue here, and contemplation should have been saved for the ending, not strewn throughout the film where it didn't belong.