The Necessities of Life
Winter 2009 Edge series
Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 4:00pm
Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 7:00pm
Acadia Cinema's Al Whittle Theatre
450 Main Street, Wolfville, NS
Directed by Benoît Pilon
Screenplay by Bernard Émond
Starring Denis Bernard, Antoine Bertrand, Paul-André Brasseur, Natar Ungalaaq, Paul-André Brasseur, Éveline Gélinas, Vincent-Guillaume Otis, Luc Proulx, Guy Thauvette
Rated NR ·
1h 42m
Canada
French, Inuktitut
In 1952, an Inuit hunter named Tivii with tuberculosis leaves his northern home and family to go recuperate at a sanatorium in Quebec City. Uprooted, far from his loved ones, unable to speak French and faced with a completely alien world, he becomes despondent. When he refuses to eat and expresses a wish to die, his nurse, Carole, comes to the realization that Tivii’s illness is not the most serious threat to his well-being. She arranges to have a young orphan, Kaki, transferred to the institution. The boy is also sick, but has experience with both worlds and speaks both languages. By sharing his culture with Kaki and opening it up to others, Tivii rediscovers his pride and energy. Ultimately he also rediscovers hope through a plan to adopt Kaki, bring him home and make him part of his family.