Review of Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2002) by Jared L — 03 Sep 2008

This film lacks that processed, removed feeling that almost every other film possesses. Instead, it feels like one is viewing a home video with the camera operating in both first and third person and people occasionally breaking the fourth wall.

We are given a look into an Inuit community where bigamy produces family conflict which risks creating a cycle of revenge. However, it takes the director over 90 minutes to reach the initial point of action, everything before that is tedious exposition.

The camera lingers as the director draws out takes that fail to pull the viewer in. Moreover, the use of untrained Inuit actors, while lending the film a great deal of authenticity, has the downside of producing some weak acting.

The end product is lengthy, boring, and not particularly insightful.