The movie Atanarjuat is a revelation. It's hero is not heroic in the standard, North American style. The pace of life, speech and action, save in certain instances, is leisurely. Mythological both in its roots and in it presentation, Atanarjuat offers up a moving experience as both cinema and a glimpse of a culture vastly different than our own.

Atanarjuat is the Fast Runner. His brother, Amaqjuaq, is as strong as Atanarjuat is quick. They have made the life of their parents much easier, even though the leader of the camp, Sauri, has always disliked their father. Sauri's son, Oki, hates Atanarjuat because Oki's betrothed, Atuat, loves Atanarjuat. The dislike of Sauri and Oki for Atanarjuat leads to danger for him and the rest of his family.

Once one is introduced to the players in the movie, and the situation is established, this movie is easy to follow. The beginning, though, confused me. When the movie hit its stride, I figured out the situation, and everything was clear to me by the end of the film. The rhythm of speaking and of conversation is quite different from English. It takes some time to become familiar with, and this may make the opening feel a little disjointed. I soon, though, fell into the rhythm. The dialogue of the film is in the Inuit language and subtitled. This made the Canadian film feel almost foreign, and certainly the culture and society portrayed are alien to an urban Canadian such as myself.

This movie is mythology. Its story is based on Inuit mythology, but as with all good myths, the stories and lessons within it are universal. The characters are archetypes, readily identifiable, fallible and sympathetic. Atanarjuat is not the standard hero in that he expresses fear of his opponent, and accepts the bullying interference of Oki. He is, however, a character much closer to most of us, who are afraid of physically powerful opponents and will accept the bullying interference of others--to a point. During the movie, I wanted the character of Atanarjuat to conform to my conception of a hero, but, in the end, appreciated the distinctive heroics of the character.

While not exactly fantasy, the term fantastic certainly applies to this movie, in that its setting is inhabited by reincarnated souls, ghosts, shamans and evil spirits. Magic is woven, subtly, into the fabric of the story. Like the stark surroundings and austere life of the characters, the magic is not revealed in flashes of lightning or gouts of fire. Still, though unobtrusive, fantastic elements are central to the story.

Visually, Atanarjuat is stunning. Shot in the far north of Canada, the setting is one of ice, snow and barren rock. What little colour one sees springs from sparse vegetation, clothing and food. But for all its barrenness, the landscapes are beautiful. This may stand as a polar (forgive the pun) opposite to the rich, verdant vistas of the Fellowship of the Ring, but the effect is no less awe inspiring.

Overall, this movie is a treat for those interested in cinema, mythology or the culture of the Inuit. It delivers much in all three areas. It clocks in at around three hours, which may deter some people from seeing it, but I, for one, found it fascinating. The movie enthralled me, taking me directly into the story, into the lives of the characters. I left the darkened theatre expecting to walk out into the bright, clear ice of the Arctic. The film truly touched and moved me and I highly recommend it.