Living with Giants

This intimate documentary by directors Sebastien Rist and Aude Leroux-Lévesque is infused with deep-rooted traditions and the harsh realities of a changing Arctic. It’s a visual interpretation of the life of Paulusie, a young Inuk. Paulusie is an optimistic, imaginative and sensitive teen who loves the solitude of hunting. The doc poetically explores complex social issues—such as violence, depression, and suicide— within the community of Inukjuak (the Inuktitut word for “giant”). It also reveals Paulusie’s hopes, and the demons he wrestles with, as he provides for his adoptive parents and shares his life with his girlfriend Nikuusi. The directorial duo set out to make a positive film about an amazing young man they knew—a charismatic, open-minded individual. But making a documentary can be unpredictable: when alcohol is smuggled into his dry community for a graduation party, Paulusie’s life is turned upside down.

Full of detail that ranges from the trivial to the fantastic, this is the story of a young man trying to heal the wounds of the past while doing his best to make his mark in his community. Kudos to the directors for avoiding facile political statements and revealing something deeper about Native youth in the North.

Trailer...