The Journals of Knud Rasmussen

The Journals of Knud Rasmussen is a 2006 Canadian-Danish film about the pressures on traditional Inuit shamanistic beliefs as documented by Knud Rasmussen during his travels across the Canadian Arctic in the 1920s. Produced by Isuma, the film was directed by Zacharias Kunuk, who also directed the award-winning Inuit film Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, and Norman Cohn. It premiered on September 7, 2006 at the Toronto International Film Festival, after pre-release screenings in Inuit communities in Canada and Greenland.

The Journals of Knud Rasmussen
DVD cover
Directed by	Zacharias Kunuk Norman Cohn
Produced by	Lucius Barre Norman Cohn Zacharias Kunuk Elise Lund Larsen Stephane Rituit Vibeke Vogel
Written by	Eugene Ipkarnak Madeline Ivalu Herve Paniaq Pauloosie Qulitalik Lucy Tulugarjuk Abraham Ulayuruluk Louis Uttak
Starring	Natar Ungalaaq Pierre Lebeau Leah Angutimarik Jens Jørn Spottag Neeve Irngaut
Music by	Richard Lavoie
Cinematography	Norman Cohn
Edited by	Cathrine Ambus Norman Cohn Félix Lajeunesse
Distributed by	Alliance Atlantis SF Film
Release date	March 11, 2006 (Igloolik screening) September 7, 2006 (Canada) October 8, 2006 (USA) November 10, 2006 (Denmark)
Running time	112 minutes
Country	Canada Denmark
Language	Inuktitut Danish English
Budget	$6,300,000 (estimated)

Synopsis

Set primarily in and around Igloolik in 1922, the film depicts the encounter between a group of Inuit in Arctic Canada led by one of the last shamans of the Canadian Inuit, Aua, and three Danish ethnographers and explorers, Knud Rasmussen, Therkel Mathiassen and Peter Freuchen during the latter's "Great Sled Journey" of 1922. The film is shot from the perspective of the Inuit, showing their traditional beliefs and lifestyle. The shaman and his entourage must ultimately decide whether to join the ranks of another group of Inuit who have converted to Christianity.

Cast

• Natar Ungalaaq as Nuqallaq

External links

• Across Arctic America (1927), Knud Rasmussen's book from which the film is based.
• "New York Times Review,"
• The Journals of Knud Rasmussen at IMDb
• The Journals of Knud Rasmussen
• Isuma - Production Studio of The Journals of Knud Rasmussen - based on Turtle Island
• Before Tomorrow - Upcoming Isuma Production