The Necessities of Life
2008 · Movie · 102 min. · Canada
Set in the 1950s, The Necessities of Life recalls a time when tuberculosis was still an epidemic and a serious problem for many underserved communities. As the disease spread, many Inuit were forced to leave their homes in search of treatment elsewhere. As the film begins, Tivii (Natar Ungalaaq, "Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner") is brought to a sanatorium in Quebec City, where he is told he has to leave his family behind and face treatment alone. Suddenly he finds himself removed from everything he knows, surrounded by a language he does not speak, and facing a future that is uncertain. Luckily, he has a nurse, Carole (Éveline Gélinas) who is kind and nurturing, and who wants to see Tivii thrive. This film was the official Canadian submission for the Academy Award(R) for Best Foreign Language Film.
Direction Benoît Pilon
Cast Paul-André Brasseur · Natar Ungalaaq · Èveline Gélinas · Antoine Bertrand · Louise Marleau · Guy Thauvette · Denis Bernard · Luc Proulx
Soundtrack Robert Marcel Lepage
Screenplay Bernard Émond
Cinematography Michel La Veaux
Original title Ce qu'il faut pour vivre (The Necessities of Life)
6.8
80 votes (FilmAffinity)
Add to lists
Share