The Whaler Boy
Wednesday, March 16 / 6:30pm / Ottawa art Gallery
Nalujuk Night / The Whaler Boy
Feature presentation \
The Whaler Boy
Kitoboy
2020 / 93 minutes / Russia, Poland, Belgium
Director: Philipp Yuryev
Writer: Philipp Yuryev
Languages: English, Russian
Subtitles: English
“Our message is getting stronger”: Russian filmmakers spread the anti-war message
Art Film Festival 2021, Best Male Performance - Vladimir Onokhov
Cinema Jove - Valencia International Film Festival 2021, Best Actor - Vladimir Onokhov, Best Directing - Philipp Yuryev, Best Cinematography - Mikhail Khursevich, Yakov Mironichev
Mons International Festival of Love Films 2021, Best Director - Philipp Yuryev
Nika Awards 2021, Discovery of the Year
Pingyao International Film Festival 2020, Best Film
Russian Guild of Film Critics 2021, Best Debut
Sochi Open Russian Film Festival 2020, Best Actor - Vladimir Onokhov, Best Direction - Philipp Yuryev, Full-Length Film Competition
Transilvania International Film Festival 2021, Best Film
Venice Film Festival 2020, GdA Director's Award
internet \ coming of age \ first feature
Featuring a remarkable debut from lead Vladimir Onokhov, an evocative soundtrack that Twin Peaks fans especially will appreciate, and gorgeous views of the Russian Far East, The Whaler Boy follows young Chukchi hunter Lyoshka (Onokhov) as he falls in love - with a camgirl in America he finds on the internet, which has newly arrived in his remote northern community. Delving into universal and timely themes, like the way reality can get warped and confused in virtual spaces and loss of faith in the images and symbols you once valued (of America, of a beautiful woman on the internet), the film maintains an infectious joyfulness and delightful sense of humour as we follow Lyoshka on his coming-of-age journey.
- Stephanie Berrington
PRESS
Short film \
Nalujuk Night
2021 / 13 minutes / Inuttitut with English subtitles
Director: Jennie Williams
Every January, the northern community of Nunainguk (Nain), Labrador gets a visit from bogeymen-like creatures called the Nalujuit. Filmed in striking black and white video, this documentary records the sights and sounds of a bone-chilling Inuit tradition.