A film based on the true story about an educator who teaches a group of Inuit students lacrosse in an effort to help them through personal trauma will be hitting the screen at the ACT Arts Centre in Maple Ridge.
The Grizzlies was first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, 2018, and will be screened at the ACT on Sunday, Jan. 14, as part of the TIFF film circuit called Stories From The Top Of The World – a series featuring films about the Arctic including: its people, stories, culture, dangers, and magnificent landscapes.
The story takes place in 2004 in a small town in the Arctic called Kugluktuk, whose people were suffering from widespread use of drugs, alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and one of the highest teen suicide rates in the world – and traumatized by the legacy of colonialism.
When Russ Sheppard, a white, rookie teacher from the south, arrives at the local school on a one-year teaching contract, the students are distrustful.
However, after the death of one of his students, Sheppard introduces his class to lacrosse in an effort to help lift them out of the trauma they are experiencing.
Through hard work, the team eventually gains the support of their divided town and make it all the way to the National Lacrosse Championships in Toronto.
Win or lose, the ultimate victory might be in the spirit of the community, opposed to the outcome on the lacrosse field.
The Grizzlies stars Jack Anawak, Fred Bailey, and Seth Burke. It was written by Moira Walley-Beckett and Graham Yost and directed by Miranda de Pencier.
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According to the IMDb site, the filmmakers included Inuit people in every aspect of the making of the movie in order to provide a training ground for Inuit and Indigenous filmmakers. The site noted that a paid mentorship program allowed Inuit actors, crew, musicians and other artistic collaborators to participate. As a result, more than 91 per cent of the cast and more than 33 per cent of the crew were Inuit or Indigenous, with many of the leading actors having had no experience until then.
In addition, more than 600 youth in more than 25 communities across Nunavut and the Northwest Territories auditioned for spots with around 60 Inuit youth invited to attend Arctic Youth Performing Arts Workshops for train in acting, filmmaking, Inuit drum dancing, throat singing, and mask work. Many of the actors in the movie were chosen from this group.
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Filmed mostly in Nunavut, gear and supplies had to be flown to location and locals had to be trained to fill key crew roles.
Screening of The Grizzlies takes place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 14, at the Mainstage Theatre at The ACT, 11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge.
The movies is “R” rated and tickets are $12 plus fees.
To book tickets call 604-476-2787 or go to theactmapleridge.org/the-grizzlies.