ATANARJUAT — THE FAST RUNNER (2001, Zacharias Kunuk) Rating: NNNN
Rating: NNNN
If the heat is getting you down, you can spend almost three hours in the long-ago Arctic with two brothers (Atanarjuat and Amaqjuaq) reviled by the evil members of their Inuit clan who set out to murder the popular pair. This landmark Canadian film is the first feature ever filmed in the Inuktitut language and prides itself on its authenticity. Director Kunuk employed Inuit artisans to recreate ancient costumes and props, including dogsleds made of bones, stones, antlers and ivory. The film’s narrative is a little confusing at first, but stick with it as the legend unfolds. You’ll be pulled into an engrossing fable in which the harsh arctic landscape eventually metes out justice to both good- and evildoers alike. (July 25, Fox July 26-31, Music Hall)
