The NFB is committed to respecting your privacy

We use cookies to ensure that our site works efficiently, as well as for advertising purposes.

If you do not wish to have your information used in this way, you can modify your browser settings before continuing your visit.

Learn more
Skip to content Accessibility
My List
Your request could not be processed.
This film is already in your list
New release
Coming 
None

Atanarjuat the Fast Runner

2000 2 h 41 min
Leaving soon

This adaptation of an ancient Inuit legend was filmed in Inuktitut and directed by Inuit filmmakers - making Atanarjuat the first feature film of its kind! Set in Igloolik, in Nunavut, this is "a powerful drama, not a documentary," reminds the director Kunuk. "It demystifies the exotic, otherwordly aboriginal stereotype by telling a universal story." The clothes, spears, kayaks, sunglasses and dwellings were all painstakingly researched. "We show how our ancestors dressed, how they handled their dog teams, how they argued and laughed.. confronted evil and fought back." Many enthusiastic viewers have compared this epic story to The Iliad. In …

We're sorry, this content is not available in your location.
Your rental expires on
None
You've already purchased this film.
Download it from My purchases.
Not available
Share
This work contains scenes of nudity and/or sexuality. Viewer discretion is advised.
Atanarjuat the Fast Runner

Details

This adaptation of an ancient Inuit legend was filmed in Inuktitut and directed by Inuit filmmakers - making Atanarjuat the first feature film of its kind!

Set in Igloolik, in Nunavut, this is "a powerful drama, not a documentary," reminds the director Kunuk. "It demystifies the exotic, otherwordly aboriginal stereotype by telling a universal story." The clothes, spears, kayaks, sunglasses and dwellings were all painstakingly researched. "We show how our ancestors dressed, how they handled their dog teams, how they argued and laughed.. confronted evil and fought back."

Many enthusiastic viewers have compared this epic story to The Iliad. In the words of one movie critic, "If Homer had been given a video camera, this is what he would have done!"

In Inuktitut, with English subtitles.
This work contains scenes of nudity and/or sexuality. Viewer discretion is advised.
  • writer
    Paul Apak Angilirq
  • director
    Zacharias Kunuk
  • photography
    Norman Cohn
  • editor
    Zacharias Kunuk
    Norman Cohn
    Marie-Christine Sarda
  • design
    James Ungalaaq
  • original music
    Chris Crilly
  • producer
    Paul Apak Angilirq
    Norman Cohn
    Zacharias Kunuk
    Germaine Ying Gee Wong
  • executive producer
    Sally Bochner
  • cast
    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 Akkitirq
    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
    Tarcisius Taqqaugaq
    Raymond Taqqaugaq
  • production manager
    Norman Cohn
  • assistant director
    James Ungalaaq
    Pakak Innuksuk
  • additional writer
    Herve Paniaq
    Norman Cohn
    Zacharias Kunuk
    Pauloosie Qulitalik
  • story consultant
    Anne Frank
  • script editor
    Anne Frank
    Norman Cohn
  • song
    Emile Immaroitok
    Abraham Ulayuruluk
  • elder advisor
    George Kappianaq
    Annie Kappianaq
    Eulalie Angutimarik
    Elizabeth Nutarakittuq
    Mary Tinashlu
    Atuat Akkitirq
  • camera
    Norman Cohn
  • camera assistant
    Ike Ungalaaq
    Brian Nutarariaq
    Andrew Uyarasuk
    Donald Ittuksarjuat
    Benjamin Satuqsi
  • sound recordist
    Richard Lavoie
  • sound assistant
    Ike Ungalaaq
    Brian Nutarariaq
    Aimona Akkitirq
    Johnny Qumangat
  • props supervisor
    James Ungalaaq
  • assistant props
    Stephen Qrunnut
  • prop maker
    Apayata Kotierk
    James Ungalaaq
    Cain Iqqaqsaq
    Enookie Kunuk
    Abraham Ulayuruluk
    Natar Ungalaaq
    Nathan Qamaniq
    Samueli Ammaq
    Peter Henry Arnatsiaq
  • sealskin tents
    Racheal Uyarasuk
  • continuity
    Amelia Angilirq
  • production coordinator
    Raymond Taqqaugaq
  • production accountant
    Jocelyne Loiselle
  • wardrobe manager
    Micheline Ammaq
  • costume supervisor
    Atuat Akkitirq
  • design assistant
    Simeonie Ukkalianuk
  • seamstress
    Elisapi Angutirjuaq
    Theresia Taqqaugaq
    Therese Ukkalianuk
    Susan Avingaq
    Iga Attagutaalukuttuk
    Vivi Kunuk
    Deporah Qaunaq
    Leah Atarjuat
    Leah Taqqaugaq
  • hair consultant
    Bob Pritchard
  • makeup consultant
    Bob Pritchard
  • hair
    Therese Ipkarnak
  • makeup
    Therese Ipkarnak
  • makeup assistant
    Susan Kublu
    Sidonie Ungalaaq
  • camp leader
    Nathan Qamaniq
    Apayata Kotierk
  • dog wrangler
    Samueli Ammaq
    Peter Henry Arnatsiaq
  • cook
    Charlie Auksaq
    Sidonie Auksaq
    William Kopak
    Mary Qulitalik
    Lucien Ukkalianuk
    Sidonie Ungalaaq
  • day care
    Sidonie Ungalaaq
    Hannah Siakuluk
    Jeannie Angilirq
    Racheal Angutautok
  • special effects services
    Walter Klassen
  • stills photographer
    Viviane Delisle
    Marie-Hélène Cousineau
  • website manager
    Katarina Soukup
  • assistant editor
    Laurent Arnatsiaq
  • sound post supervisor
    Chris Crilly
  • sound effects editor
    Don Ayer
  • dialogue editor
    Nathalie Fleurant
  • foley artist
    Andy Malcolm
    Goro Koyama
  • foley assistant
    Rebecca Wright
  • foley mixer
    Ron Mellegers
  • ADR recordist
    Henry, Jr Godding
  • re-recording mixer
    Serge Boivin
    Jean Paul Vialard
  • music recordist
    Eric Lemoyne
  • sampling
    Peter Spoecker
    David Doolittle
  • Dolby sound consultant
    Thomas Kodros
  • online editor
    Alexandre Domingue
  • video on-line
    Multivet Media
  • digital to film transfer
    Digital Film Group

Education

Ages 17 to 18
School subjects

How does this film echo elements of the Hero’s Journey? Account for how conflict management is crucial to community survival in hunter-gatherer societies. The theme of exile occurs several times in the story—address how banishment serves as a powerful punishment for offenders in a nomadic society. Discuss the leadership role that Elders hold within Arctic Indigenous groups. From a filmmaker’s perspective, identify some of the challenges in filming this movie (e.g., lighting, setting, transportation, language fluency, etc.). 

Atanarjuat the Fast Runner
Purchase options
Billing Information
Already paid to see this film?
Payment information

Home licence (worldwide); Classroom licence (Canada only)

You may download this film for private, personal or classroom use only. Public screenings and institutional (non-educational institutions) uses are not permitted. Download films in standard or high definition. (Please note that bonus materials are not available for DTO films.) You can copy each file up to 5 (five) times, onto various devices. DTO films cannot be hosted on a streaming server. To add DTO films to an institutional or educational streaming server, please contact a sales agent to discuss pricing.

Institutional License

The institutional price includes the rights to screen this film in institutional settings and in free public screenings.