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 wins & 3 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:

shaman | inuit | snow | explorer | religion | 

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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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Did You Know?

Trivia

Opening film for 2006 Toronto International Film Festival.

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Quotes

Aua: We believe happy people should not worry about hidden things. Our spirits are offended if we think too much.

User Reviews

Drama in a Bleak Land

The arctic provides a bleak landscape. It's cold, there's snow, maybe the odd igloo or so and sky.

So how does a movie-maker transform this to paint a picture of how Christianity was introduced to the Inuit 95-odd years ago? Very skillfully, I must say.

And when the story makes you understand how Inuit life and thinking was before with shamans, and family traditions of eating, child rearing, and let's say superstitions, though perhaps that's not the exact word, and the transition that took place in one household and the extended community when Danish explorers from Greenland chanced upon this community, you see a piece of history unfold in front of you in a gripping, intellectually powerful way.

The impact on the family, the emotional rip from the heart, and the ensuing loss really makes for a powerful and honest film.

Well, done with super acting throughout!

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Production Site

Country:

Canada Denmark Greenland

Language:

Inuktitut English Danish

Release Date:

10 November 2006 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

The Journals of Knud Rasmussen

Filming Locations:

Igloolik, Nunavut, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$50,823, 1 October 2006

Gross USA:

$209,478

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$209,478

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