Uvanga

Uvanga is a Canadian family drama directed by Marie-Hélène Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu. Set in Igloolik, a small Inuit village, the film tells the story of Anna, a Montreal native who had a brief affair with an Inuit man while she worked up North. She had a son named Tomas with the man, but has raised him in Montreal. After hearing of Tomas’ father’s mysterious death, Anna and Tomas travel back to the island community to reconnect with their distant family.

The directing duo co-founded Arnait Video Productions, a women’s filmmaking collective in Nunavut, and released their first feature, Before Tomorrow, in 2008. Uvanga, which translates to ‘myself’ in English, was shot in and around Igloolik during the summer when the 24-hour daylight provided a beautiful backdrop. They also cast local actors, helping to add a genuineness to their production.  “The film is truly an actor’s film. We had the opportunity to work with an exceptional team of experienced Igloolik-based actors. Interestingly, they had never worked on a contemporary story before. Working with them helped us sharpen the scenes and the Inuktitut dialogue developed in the script. We used this same approach with Before Tomorrow to ensure absolute cultural authenticity.”

Uvanga is rated 14A.

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