Customer Reviews

Atanarjuat: Fast Runner

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

One of the best films I have ever seen. This is not a movie for everyone. However, if you have an open mind, enjoy learing about other cultures, and are not afraid to think, then get this movie now. Cinemetography is excellent. I believe that it will be used as a teaching tool in anthopology courses for the next 100 years.

Good stuff.

This is a fantastic film. It is a little slow at the beginning, but that reflects the nature of the far north; having lived and travelled in the Western Arctic, I can attest to the "slow-pace" of life that most northerners cherish and enjoy. I think it does a great job of capturing many aspects of Inuit culture such as the importance of family, the role of humour, etc. The film is based on a "strong" Inuit story/legend that is complex and involved; it's nice to see this considering that Aboriginal stories are typically stereotyped as short and carrying a "simple" moral lesson for children.

It's a great movie and I would recommend it to anyone. It's a nice change from the usual big-budget films most of us watch regularly.

This film is of a quality that normally eludes Canadian film-making, combining mythical elements of Inuit culture with the harsh reality of life in the Arctic. The acting is superb, the directing top-notch, and the script is humourous without sacrificing the gravity of the conflictual situation. The rugged life of the Arctic has never been made clearer than in this wonderful and uncomplicated film.

Though the film starts off quite a bit slow, and may be a bit too long and 'boring' for many, it ends with finally getting a little more attention and as well as understanding what this film is really about. I am surprised how much I liked this film, despite I found it somewhat a little too slow during the first half. However, I hope they could add more onto the 2nd Disc's Special Features. I went through it within 15 mins or so. The extra audio clips are awfully short, and the "Behind the Scenes" are exactly the same as the footage shown during the Ending Credits on the first disc. So its quite a disappointment.

I'd say the DVD set is more of a 4 out of 5. But the movie itself is definately worth-watching, despite its length. I definately would love to see more Inuit films in the future.

This is one of those movies that start out really slow, but if you hang in there and make it through the first forty-five minutes, you will end up satisfied. In my opinion the creators of "The Fast Runner" use the slow pace in the movie as a reflection of the speed at which life moves in the Inuit tribe on which the story focuses.

The movie starts when a demon visits an Inuit group and curses them. At this time, Tulimag is having trouble to feed his family and already starts receiving a treatment that is not the "usual" this society gives to its members. Eskimos are known for their generosity and solidarity, but Tulimag becomes the object of ridicule and he is only given the leftovers from the food the others get. Years later, his two sons are well respected and some of the best hunters in the group. Atanarjuat and Amaqjuart have a good life and are very close to each other. Atanarjuat is in love with Atuat, but she is promised to Oki, who is willing to fight for her. In the meantime, Oki's sister, Puja, is interested in Atanarjuat. The events develop and we get to see the special rules they use in their "duels" and their customs regarding marriages. When a severe tragedy knocks on the door, the adventure picks up in pace and the interest of the audience is grabbed until the end without letting go.

Except for the painfully slow pace at the beginning, this is a highly enjoyable movie. Nevertheless, you have to be in the mood to sit down for three hours and be patient until the events turn into something really interesting. Apart from the story in this particular case, I enjoyed learning about the uses and culture of this society, about which I knew very little. The other remarkable aspect is the photography, which is absolutely stunning! Overall, I think it is a creation worth seeing, but you have to carefully pick the moment to do so.

Saw this film twice while on a working trip to the high Arctic in December. It reflects the stark beauty of the Arctic and the complexity of a culture quite foreign to a southerner's understanding. The story line, I gather derived from one of the local oral histories, is one of love, rivalry, loss, redemption, social justice and forgiveness. Definitely a must see for anyone interested in broadening their horizons. Early in the movie, the story is a bit confusing because it is done in Inuktitut however if you hang in for the end, you will be amply rewarded

...and keeps you intrigued, hoping that somehow good will conquer evil. The acting is convincing, despite the inexperienced players. And the setting is amazing, evoking the isolation and the frigid temperatures perfectly. One thing to note though, is that you might benefit from reviewing the legend first (this is an option on the bonus features of the DVD). I read it after watching the movie and was able to better understand some of the subtleties of the story.

A rare and brilliant movie of life among the Arctic Native peoples. A must for High Schools.

Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner This is a very thoughtful and understated film. There are no big explosions or other things that are in almost all films today. This is about a group of people trying to survive in a most inhospitable invironment. The "curse" of a travelling shaman starts a chain of events in the community that pit one individual against another to such an extent that the one tries to kill the other but is not successful. The result is a chase over our most beautiful north and exile for some time of the one being pursued.
The film covers the result of the violence on all the people involved and is almost a documentary of how lives are lived in a country of ice and snow. The performances of the actors are low-key and for the most part very gentle. The culmination of the film is a welcome surprise, complete with the wisdom of, and respect for, the elders in the community. If you like a good love story as well, this is the film for you.

this movie was kind of slow paced, but once you kind of set yourself to that pace, it was pretty good. i think at one point they said the story is pretty universal among the inuit, in the credits or the 'how it was made' part. it's basically about this guy named atanarjuat, the fast runner, and it takes us through his life. the way it's told, now that i look back on it, has many of the same aspects as some of the less fantastical legends i've heard. the plot had a kind of 'epic' feel to it i guess.

it was a very... real movie. there was no hollywood drama or special effects, you felt like you were right there with them. it was a fascinating look at inuit life and culture, and was pretty well done.