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Atanarjuat the Fast Runner

R Released Jun 7, 2002 2h 48m Adventure Drama List
93% Tomatometer 133 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
A depiction of the Inuit people of the Canadian arctic, telling the story of a crime that ruptures the trust within a closely knit group and how justice is achieved and healing begins.
Atanarjuat the Fast Runner

What to Know

Critics Consensus

An Inuit story finally told by Inuit filmmakers, The Fast Runner has the breadth and pacing of ancient myth while also feeling vitally alive.

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Critics Reviews

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Sheila Norman-Culp Associated Press Natar Ungalaaq, a well-known Inuit sculptor and actor, is impishly appealing as Atanarjuat, a hunter perhaps too besotted with his own talents. In his first acting role, Peter-Henry Arnatsiaq is menacing as Oki. Nov 8, 2023 Full Review Jack Mathews New York Daily News Not only one of the most intriguing feature-film projects in decades and enough plain-spoken anthropology for three credits at Harvard, but one of the most flat-out entertaining movies of the year. Rated: 4/4 Nov 8, 2023 Full Review Robert Philpot Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com If anything, it should accomplish its mission of making people curious about this rarely filmed culture. Rated: 3.5/4 Nov 8, 2023 Full Review Jeet Heer National Post While the film's scenery may seem uninhabitably otherworldly, the central narrative of revenge and forgiveness has an elemental, human appeal. Rated: 3/4 Nov 8, 2023 Full Review Mark Lepage Montreal Gazette Kunuk's cameras send back pictures of alarming visual clarity. For every moment when the film seems most what it is -- a directorial debut -- there are three moments both ancient and human. Rated: 3/5 Nov 8, 2023 Full Review Jay Stone Ottawa Citizen Natar Ungalaaq is especially good as the title character; his naked run, a Northern Exposure of the trust kind deserves some kind of award, if not medal for bravery. Rated: 4/5 Nov 8, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (227) audience reviews
Gabby B A great perspective of Inuit culture that we would not usually get the chance to see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/15/24 Full Review Munkhchimeg T Got the point very well. I can say this movie is not like the none of regular movie. Special movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/07/24 Full Review Geke g Shows us real huge difference of culture Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/06/24 Full Review Bahad j In my opinion, the movie uses very good camera and audio visual equipment and the crew members and the filmmakers have played their roles very well. I really liked it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/06/24 Full Review tex t It's a completely different culture for most of us, at a completely different time, too. But you'll connect with the characters in this story because they're going through the same human issues, just that there's snow and ice and ingenious ways of surviving and carrying the next generation forward. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/14/24 Full Review Audience Member One of my favourite movies. A timeless story ;) Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Atanarjuat the Fast Runner

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Atanarjuat the Fast Runner

Atanarjuat the Fast Runner (2001) Atanarjuat the Fast Runner (2001) Atanarjuat the Fast Runner (2001) Atanarjuat the Fast Runner (2001) Lead female actor Sylvia Ivalu (Atuat) and Bernice Ivalu (baby Kumaglak) in ATANARJUAT (THE FAST RUNNER). Lead actor Natar Ungalaaq as Atanarjuat in ATANARJUAT (THE FAST RUNNER). View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A depiction of the Inuit people of the Canadian arctic, telling the story of a crime that ruptures the trust within a closely knit group and how justice is achieved and healing begins.
Director
Zacharias Kunuk
Producer
Paul Apak Angilirq, Norman Cohn, Zacharias Kunuk
Screenwriter
Paul Apak Angilirq
Distributor
Lot 47 Films
Rating
R (Some Sexuality|Some Nudity|Violence)
Genre
Adventure, Drama
Original Language
Inuktitut
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 7, 2002, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 5, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.8M
Runtime
2h 48m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)