KUESSIPAN
Canada, 2019, 117 minutes, Colour.
Sharon Ishpatao Fontaine, Yamie Gregoire, Etienne Galloy, Douglas Gregoire, Cedric Ambroise.
Directed by Myriam Verreault.
A French-Canadian production, the characters belonging to an Innu village and speaking the Innu language.
There is a prologue showing the friendship between two young girls with the village. Then the action moves to their teen years, one of them rather enterprising, poetic, wanting to go to Québec to study. The other has become entangled in relationships, especially towards a violent partner, and caring for a child. There are some connections between the two friends but there are also moments of alienation.
The film shows aspects of life in the village in some detail, especially from the point of view of the enterprising young woman. She meets a young man, white, and they share a number of interests, especially in studies and further education. This contrasts then with the domestic upheaval for her friend.
The film highlights disappointments in the Innu community, bonding and sense of responsibility within a family, especially after a death. There are issues of ambitions and disappointments.
- The title, the Innu language, following on?
- The Innu setting, the village, the reserve, the community, homes, centres? The language? The musical score? The people, native background, indigenous, the perceptions that colonialist attitudes wanted their land? Resentment and prejudice?
- Mikuan and Shaniss, the opening, the two young girls, the fish, homes, parents, bonding, Shaniss taken to the home, Mikuan and her sadness? The basis for the long-term friendship?
- Years passing? The film’s focus on Mikuan, her age, appearance, joyful spirit, within the community, bonding with her parents, her father and hunting, at home, her brother and sport? Her ambitions, wanting to study, going to the creative writing weekend, exhilarated? Her own poems and the voice-over? The incident in the bar, Greg, Francis, the clash, the impending court case? Prejudice and attitudes?
- Mikuan and Francis, talking, sharing, poetry, ambitions? The outings together? In the hut, measuring his height on the beam? The sexual attraction, the encounter? The bonding between the two? Mikuan and her wanting to go to Québec, and Francis to go with her? Inviting him to the family meal, the welcome, her brother playing the guitar? Shaniss and her prejudice against Francis?
- Shaniss, the relationship with Greg, abusive? The baby? Feeling hurt by Mikuan and her relationship with Francis? The court case? Greg, abusive again, hiding from the police? His arrest? Shani’s and the baby, going to the abused women shelter? Relying on Mikuan?
- Francis, breaking off with Mikuan, her being hurt? His reasons? Prejudices? Her anchor, getting the rifle, going to the hut, shooting the bed?
- The issue of finance, her brother and sport, her going to study in Québec? The sadness of the accident, the death, lying in state, the funeral?
- Shaniss, the shelter, not wanting to stay? Relying on Mikuan, the future, her filling farewelling Mikuan, Mikuan and the prospects for her future?
