About
Filmed in 1956, this document presents the Inuit life in the winter camp of Quaqtaq, comprised of large family igloos. Traditional, their life is punctuated by hunting, women gathering, social life, building igloos, children playing... This document also shows one of the few scenes filmed from the inside of an igloo, where you can see the layout of those homes, their glass windows, the large soapstone oil lamp, etc.
QUAQTAQ (1956)
Film describing Inuit life in a small winter camp comprised of large family igloos.
16 mm colour movie, silent
19 minutes.
Director: B. Saladin d’Anglure.
Camera: B. Saladin d’Anglure
Shot during winter of 1956 in Quaqtaq, Nunavik, with the collaboration of R.P. Antoine et Dion, o.m.i. for logistics.
A first silent version was done in 1956 by Bernard Saladin d’Anglure. Then in 1958 a commentary was added for the western public, as well as a musical background of Aivilingmiut Inuit songs, provided by R.P. Arthur Thibert, o.m.i.; this version was done with the help from the Comité du Film Ethnographique français, Musée de l’homme, Paris. The film with commentary was purchased by Radio-Canada to be aired (unknown to the author) on Québec television during the long strike of TV directors (end of 1958). This strike ended with René Lévesque’s resignation and his beginning in politics with Jean Lesage, marking the start of the Quiet Revolution; the film also aired on the same year on Télé Luxebourg.
The current editing was done by the author in 2014-15, for the Inuit, from the original footage and following the chronological sequence of the scenes.
Award Connaissance du Monde 1957, given by a jury presided by Jean Rouch, of the Société des Explorateurs et Voyageurs français, Paris.
