Watch One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk

One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk, released in 2019, is a poignant film that follows the life of an Inuit hunter named Noah Piugattuk in Nunavut in the 1960s who faced forcible relocation to mainstream Canadian settlements due to the government's policy to modernize and assimilate Indigenous people. Directed by Zacharias Kunuk, the film is based on a true story, and it begins with Piugattuk (Apayata Kotierk) and his hunters' group encountering a group of Canadian officials and their soldiers, including the kindly Sergeant Bernard (Kim Bodnia). They have arrived to instruct the group that, due to new policies set by the government, they must leave their current location and all of their lifestyle behind to live in the settlement.

At first, Piugattuk and his group are curious about the soldiers, and they share some of their customary routines, such as leaving their dead outside the camps and the rationale behind it. Piugattuk's attitude towards the government's policies slightly wavers as he hears the sergeant's promise of providing amenities like schools and hospitals in the settlements, but soon he realizes that the authorities are not there to negotiate with him nor the community, and it would take a violent turn.

The film's strength lies in how the story shifts the audience's perspective from a colonial lens to that of an Indigenous one. It shows the disconnect between westernized values and the Inuit value system, where nature, traditions, and community are integral to their existence. It is also notable that throughout the film, the interactions between the soldiers and the hunters take place via a translator and the Inuktitut language. The nuanced use of translation is notable as it adds to the storytelling and conveys the idea of the government's barrier to understanding the realities of the hunters.

The visuals of the film are magnificent, with the Canadian Arctic landscapes in the background, highlighting the peaceful coexistence of nature and humans, which the hunters and other Indigenous people have practised for generations, contrasting the bleakness of the modern era.

Apayata Kotierk's portrayal of Noah Piugattuk is grounded and authentic, making the lead character the guiding force of the film. The supporting cast, most of whom are Inuit themselves and non-professional actors, skillfully convey their frustration, anger, and resilience towards the authorities. Kim Bodnia's portrayal of the sergeant is generous, and his character presents the idea that the forced resettlement policy's administrators may have been well-meaning in their approach. However, his inability to understand the hunters' worldviews also highlights his inadequacy and ignorance of the life of people he is tasked to represent.

One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk is a necessary film as it brings to light the lived experiences of Indigenous people at a time of governmental policies of relocation and assimilation. It grapples with the complexities of colonialism and the tension between Indigenous and Western worldviews, which are relevant in today's international discourse. The film gives voice to the people whose traditions, culture, and history were undermined, and their narratives of survival while ensuring respect and dignity for them in modern Canada are legitimate. Over and above its message, the film speaks to the talent of the Inuit community in bringing stories relevant to their realities to the global stage.

One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk is a 2019 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.