If the Weather Permits

If the Weather Permits

| 27 min
Free
streaming

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This short documentary studies life in the village of Kangirsujuaq, Nunavik. In this community on the edge of the Arctic Ocean, children’s laughter fills the streets while the old people ponder the passage of time. They are nomads of the wide-open spaces who are trying to get used to the strange feeling of staying put. While the teenagers lap up Southern culture and play golf on the tundra to kill time, the Elders are slowly dying, as their entire culture seems to fade away.

Elisapie Isaac, a filmmaker born in Nunavik, decides to return to her roots on this breathtaking land. To bridge the growing gap between the young and the old, she speaks to her grandfather, now deceased, and confides in him her hopes and fears. Grappling with isolation, family relationships, resource extraction, land-based knowledges, the influence of Southern culture and the ongoing impacts of colonialism on Inuit ways of life, Elisapie Isaac offers a nuanced portrait of the North.

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If the Weather Permits, Elisapie Isaac, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

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Credits
  • participation
    Naalak Nappaaluk
    Danny Alaku
    Timothy Etidloie
    Bobby Qamugaaluk
    Jimmy Kadjulik
  • research
    Elisapie Isaac
  • writer
    Elisapie Isaac
  • director
    Elisapie Isaac
  • assistant director
    Erica Pomerance
  • camera
    Alex Margineanu
  • location sound
    Yann Cleary
    Stéphane Barsalou
  • editor
    Marie-Christine Sarda
  • sound editor
    Martin Allard
    Marie-Ève Livernoche
  • script consultant
    Sophie Bissonnette
  • production manager
    Sylvie Lapointe
  • production assistant
    Bobby Qamugaaluk
  • narration text
    Manon Barbeau
    Elisapie Isaac
  • narration director
    Robert Gray
  • narration recording
    Dominic Cabana
  • foley artist
    Lise Wedlock
  • foley assistant
    Hilary Thomson
  • foley recording
    Geoffrey Mitchell
  • original music
    Alain Auger
  • musician
    Alain Auger
  • vocalist
    Elisapie Isaac
  • music re-recording
    Studio Cozmo
  • stills photographer
    Alex Margineanu
  • translator
    Harriet Keleutak
  • subtitles
    Elisapie Isaac
    Kathleen Fleming
  • technical support - editing
    Phyllis Lewis
  • titles
    Gaspard Gaudreau
  • online editor
    Denis Gathelier
  • re-recording
    Shelley Craig
  • archives
    Elisapie Isaac
  • technical coordinator
    Jean-François Laprise
  • administrator
    Denise DesLauriers
  • administrative staff
    Hélène Regimbal
    Lise Lévesque
    Marie-Christine Guité
  • marketing officer
    Joanne Carrière
    Nicole Côté
  • line producer
    Christian Medawar
    Johanne Bergeron
  • producer (development)
    Nicole Lamothe
  • producer
    Yves Bisaillon

  • None

    This really opened my eyes to how much the negative impact colonizers made to the north. It's sad how much was taken but remarkable to see their resilience.

    None, 2 Feb 2022
  • greatnanuk

    This film makes me think of my home town of Nain, Labrador. Isolated community) That's where I'm from. Now living in Nova Scotia.

    greatnanuk, 9 Dec 2015
  • sylviarogier

    I really like this film. You can truly perceive the gentleness and strength of the Inuit people (and other Arctic native people) through Elisapie. I hope to be able to find other films like this.

    sylviarogier, 28 Oct 2015
  • josee

    great short doc. i will be sharing it with many!

    josee, 3 Mar 2012
  • kruscito

    @northernlights --> Unfortunately, the song isn't available anywhere since it was made for the film. Sorry!

    kruscito, 2 Dec 2011
  • northernlights

    thanks for the name of the song but how can i get it ?. thanks

    northernlights, 1 Dec 2011
  • kruscito

    @northernlights --> The ending song is called 'Leaving Salluit' and was composed specifically for the film by Alain Auger.

    kruscito, 28 Nov 2011
  • northernlights

    'does anyone know the name of the song at the end and how to purchase it online? i enjoyed this film.her voice and structure of the editing

    northernlights, 27 Nov 2011

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