Kuessipan Explained

Kuessipan
Director:Myriam Verreault
Producer:Félize Frappier
Based On:Kuessipan by Naomi Fontaine
Starring:Sharon Fontaine-Ishpatao
Yamie Grégoire
Étienne Galloy
Music:Louis-Jean Cormier
Cinematography:Nicolas Canniccioni
Editing:Amélie Labrèche
Sophie Leblond
Myriam Verreault
Studio:Max Films Media
Distributor:Filmoption
Runtime:117 minutes
Country:Canada
Language:French
Innu-aimun

Kuessipan is a Canadian drama film, directed by Myriam Verreault and released in 2019.[1] An adaptation of Naomi Fontaine's eponymous novel, the script was co-written by Fontaine and Verreault.[2] Its plot centres on Mikuan (Sharon Fontaine-Ishpatao) and Shaniss (Yamie Grégoire), two young Innu women in Uashat-Maliotenam, whose friendship is strained when Mikuan falls in love with a white man (Étienne Galloy) and plans to move away.[3]

The film premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival and was a critical success, garnering praise for its cast and portrayal of Indigenous lives. Its theatrical release on October 4, 2019.

Plot

The film centers on Mikuan and Shaniss, two childhood friends who grow up together in Uashat. Their lives diverge during high school, when Shaniss drops out and has a baby with her abusive boyfriend Greg while Mikuan plans to move away from the reservation and attend university in Quebec City so that she can follow her dream of becoming a writer.

When Mikuan begins dating Francis, a white boy from her writing workshop, her friendship with Shaniss becomes strained. Mikuan helps Shaniss move out from Greg, but they argue after Shaniss accuses Mikuan of rejecting her culture by entering a relationship with Francis and planning to move away.

Mikuan's life is disrupted by the sudden death of her brother, a promising hockey player, and her break up with Francis. She and Shaniss eventually revive their friendship but their lives diverge, as Mikuan becomes a successful author and writes a book about Shaniss.

Cast

Production

Development

The title of the film and eponymous novel is an Innu-aimun word meaning "it's your turn", which Fontaine meant to mean "it’s my turn to talk, my turn for my people and I to talk about our community."[4] Verreault approached Fontaine after reading her novel Kuessipan in 2012 and being "deeply affected" by it. Verreault had previously lived and worked with the Innu community and produced short films about the Innu communities on the North Shore.[5] The two agreed to make a film adaptation together,[6] and co-wrote the film's script together.[7]

The original novel is a collection of stories based on Fontaine's experiences growing up in Uashat. Verreault described the book as "not at all adaptable" to film, so she and Fontaine went through a process of creating a singular narrative that captured the themes of the book.[8] Several changes were made from the original novel to adapt it for the screen, including the creation of Mikuan and Shaniss, who are not present in the novel.[9] Production and development of the film took seven years.[10]

Casting

The cast mostly included non-professional actors, from the Uashat community.[11] Over 400 Innu actors took part in the casting process, with Verreault personally meeting with 200 of them. Twenty actors auditioned for the role of Mikuan, with fifteen actors auditioning for the role of Shaniss. Verreault invited three potential candidates for the role of Shaniss and two for the role of Mikuan to take part in a two-week workshop, after which Fontaine-Ishpatao and Grégoire were cast. The film was Fontaine-Ishpatao's debut role.

Filming

Cinematographer Nicolas Canniccioni and Verreault shot the film in Innu Takuaikan Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam and Sept-Îles, Quebec.[12] It was shot in the French and Innu-aimun languages.[13]

Release

The film premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.[1] Its theatrical release in Quebec was held on October 4, 2019.

Reception

The film has a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating universal critical acclaim.[14] Sara Clements of Exclaim! gave the film an 8 out of 10, writing that the film focused on an Indigenous perspective to portray the culture and experiences of the Innu people.[15]

Anne T. Donahue of The Globe and Mail gave the film 4 out of 4 stars, describing the performances of Fontaine-Ishpatao and Grégoire as "raw and unflinching".[16] Erica Commanda of Muskrat Magazine also praised their performances, which she wrote were "down-to-earth and realistic".[17]

Awards and nominations

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s) and nominee(s)Result
Canadian Cinema Editors2 October 2020Best Editing in a Feature Film[18]
Canadian Screen Awards28 May 2020Douglas Grégoire[19]
Best Supporting ActressYamie Grégoire
Myriam Verreault, Naomi Fontaine
Prix collégial du cinéma québécois2020Best FilmKuessipan[20]
Prix Iris10 June 2020Best FilmFélize Frappier[21]
Best DirectorMyriam Verreault
Myriam Verreault, Naomi Fontaine
Nicolas Canniccioni
Revelation of the YearSharon Fontaine-Ishpatao
Best CastingJacinthe Beaudet, Tobie Fraser, Geneviève Hébert, Myriam Verreault
Most Successful Film Outside Quebec
Québec City Film Festival12–21 September 2019 Grand Prix de la Compétition – Long métrage[22]
Windsor International Film Festival1–10 November 2019Prize in Canadian Film[23]
Trophées francophone du cinéma2021 Prix du meilleur second rôle fémininYamie Grégoire[24]
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle2021Special Citation in Independent CinemaKuessipan[25]
Festival de cinéma québécois de Biscarosse2021Prix du publicKuessipan[26]
Festival International du film de femmes de Salé2021Grand PrixKuessipan[27]
Yarha Festival2021Prix du Meilleur scénarioMyriam Verreault, Naomi Fontaine[28]
Common Good International Film Festival2021Prix du Meilleur filmKuessipan[29]
National Indigenous Screen Awards2020Prix Meilleure actriceSharon Fontaine-Ishpatao[30]
National Indigenous Screen Awards2020Meilleure actriceYamie Grégoire[31]
Festival international du film d'éducation2020Prix du Meilleur long métrage de fictionKuessipan[32]
Festival International du Film d'Amiens2020Grand PrixKuessipan[33]
Minsk International Film Festival2020Prix du Meilleur filmKuessipan[34]
Festival Effervescence, Mâcon2020Prix du publicKuessipan[35]
Ohlalà Festival de cinema francòfon de Barcelona2020Mention spéciale du Jury des jeunesKuessipan[36]
Nashville Film Festival2020Grand prix - Best narrative FeatureKuessipan[37]
Film by the Sea, Vlissingen2020Prix TV5 Monde - Meilleur film francophoneKuessipan[38]
Cinemagic Belfast2020Meilleur film de fictionKuessipan[39]
Molodist Kyiv Film Festival2020Scythian Deer - Grand Prix (ex aequo)Kuessipan[40]
Molodist Kyiv Film Festival2020Mention spéciale du Jury œcuméniqueKuessipan[41]
Zlin International Film Festival2020Grand PrixKuessipan[42]
Festival du film canadien de Dieppe2020Prix du Public - TV5 MondeKuessipan[43]
Festival du film canadien de Dieppe2020Prix Jean MalaurieKuessipan[44]
Festival du film canadien de Dieppe2020Prix Révélation : Sharon Fontaine-IshpataoKuessipan[45]
Festival du film canadien de Dieppe2020Prix de la Ville de DieppeKuessipan[46]
Festival du film canadien de Dieppe2020Prix du Zonta ClubKuessipan[47]
Festival International du Film d’Aubagne2020Prix du Meilleur Long métrageKuessipan[48]
Festival International du Film d’Aubagne2020Mention spéciale à Sharon Fontaine-IshpataoKuessipan[49]
Festival international du film sur les droits humains, Genève2020Mention spéciale Jury FictionKuessipan[50]
Festival international du film sur les droits humains, Genève2020Mention spéciale Jury des JeunesKuessipan[51]
Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma2020Prix Gilles-Carle du meilleur 1er ou 2e long métrage de fictionKuessipan[52]
Prix Jacques-Marcotte Meilleur scénario de long métrage de fictionMyriam Verreault, Naomi Fontaine
Prix du jury en herbe Meilleur long métrage de fictionKuessipan
Festival International du Premier Film d'Annonay2020Prix spécial du juryKuessipan[53]
Göteborg Film Festival2020Mention spéciale, Ingmar Bergman International Debut AwardKuessipan[54]
Cinoche - Festival de film international de Baie-Comeau2020Prix du Meilleur film canadienKuessipan[55]
Festival international du cinéma francophone en Acadie2019Prix du Meilleur film canadienKuessipan[56]
Vancouver International Film Festival2019Special Mention, Best Canadian Emerging DirectorMyriam Verreault[57]
Festival international du film francophone de Namur2019Mention spéciale du juryKuessipan[58]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Peter Howell . Indigenous films highlight Canadian slate at TIFF 2019 . . July 31, 2019 .
  2. Web site: Tournage du film Kuessipan : montrer la force des jeunes Innus . . December 9, 2017 .
  3. Web site: Le roman Kuessipan adapté au cinéma . . June 18, 2017 .
  4. Web site: TIFF interview: Kuessipan filmmakers on their Innu coming-of-age story. www.seventh-row.com. 17 September 2019 .
  5. Coman . Sherry . 2019 . Kuessipan . Journal of Religion and Film . 23 . 2.
  6. News: Dunlevy . T'cha . 'Why don't we know them?' Coming-of-age tale is a window into Innu life . Montreal Gazette .
  7. Web site: Film version of Naomi Fontaine's Kuessipan debuts at TIFF.
  8. Web site: Rose . Alex . 2019-10-04 . Kuessipan deals with the universal. 2023-12-14 . Cult MTL .
  9. Web site: Hua . Vee . 2021-04-15 . Myriam Verrault Interview: Kuessipan Reveals Teen Life in an Innu Community . 2023-12-14 . REDEFINE.
  10. Web site: McIntosh. Julie. Myriam Verreault discusses the making of Kuessipan, an Innu coming-of-age film. www.nationnews.ca.
  11. Web site: Tender coming of age story in Innu community premieres at TIFF. www.CBC.com.
  12. News: Marc-André Lussier .

    fr:Marc-André Lussier

    . TIFF: percussive Antigone . . 10 September 2019 . September 15, 2019 .
  13. Web site: MEET INNU ACTORS SHARON FONTAINE-ISHPATAO AND YAMI GREGOIRE STARRING IN KUESSIPAN. whatshesaidtalk.com. 21 April 2020 .
  14. Web site: 2021-03-26 . Kuessipan - Rotten Tomatoes . 2023-12-14 . www.rottentomatoes.com .
  15. Web site: Clements . Sara . February 18, 2020 . TIFF Next Wave Review: 'Kuessipan' Is a Love Letter to Quebec's Innu . Exclaim!.
  16. Web site: 2019-08-29 . TIFF 2019: Updated – The Globe's latest ratings and reviews of movies screening at the festival . 2023-12-14 . The Globe and Mail .
  17. Web site: Commanda . Erica . 2019-09-12 . KUESSIPAN IS STUNNINGLY POETIC & STILL ROOTED IN REALISM . 2023-12-14 . MUSKRAT Magazine .
  18. CCE_editors . 1312195012575162368 . 2 October 2020 . WINNER Best Editing in Feature Film/Meilleur montage d'un long métrage Amélie Labrèche, Myriam Verreault & Sophie Leblond for Kuessipan .
  19. Web site: Écrans canadiens : Song of Names, The Twentieth Century et Antigone en tête des nominations . . February 18, 2020.
  20. https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1694419/antigone-prix-collegial-cinema-quebecois-sophie-deraspe "Antigone remporte le Prix collégial du cinéma québécois"
  21. Web site: Le film Antigone, grand gagnant du Gala Québec Cinéma avec six prix . . June 10, 2020 . June 20, 2020 . fr .
  22. 2019 Winners . 2019-09-21 . 2019-10-15 . Québec City Film Festival .
  23. Alexandre Courtemanche, "Kuessipan, meilleur film canadien au Festival international du film de Windsor". Ici Radio-Canada Côte-Nord, November 11, 2019.
  24. Yamie Grégoire primée aux Trophées francophones .
  25. Web site: Special Citation in Independent Cinema 2021. San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle. 2021-12-31.
  26. Web site: Prix du public 2021. Festival de cinéma québécois de Biscarosse. 2021-12-31.
  27. Web site: Grand Prix 2021. Festival International du film de femmes de Salé. 2021-12-31.
  28. Web site: Prix du Meilleur scénario 2021. Yarha Festival. 2021-12-31.
  29. Web site: Prix du Meilleur film 2021. Common Good International Film Festival. 2021-12-31.
  30. Web site: Prix Meilleure actrice 2020. National Indigenous Screen Awards. 2021-12-31.
  31. Web site: Meilleure actrice 2020. National Indigenous Screen Awards. 2021-12-31.
  32. Web site: Prix du Meilleur long métrage de fiction 2020. Festival international du film d'éducation. 2021-12-31.
  33. Web site: Grand Prix 2020. Festival International du Film d'Amiens. 2021-12-31.
  34. Web site: Prix du Meilleur film 2020. Minsk International Film Festival. 2021-12-31.
  35. Web site: Prix du public 2020. Festival Effervescence, Mâcon. 2021-12-31.
  36. Web site: Mention spéciale du Jury des jeunes 2020. Ohlalà Festival de cinema francòfon de Barcelona. 2021-12-31.
  37. Web site: Grand prix - Best narrative Feature 2020. Nashville Film Festival. 2021-12-31.
  38. Web site: Prix TV5 Monde - Meilleur film francophone 2020. Film by the Sea, Vlissingen. 2021-12-31.
  39. Web site: Meilleur film de fiction 2020. Cinemagic Belfast. 2021-12-31.
  40. Web site: Scythian Deer - Grand Prix (ex aequo) 2020. Molodist Kyiv Film Festival. 2021-12-31.
  41. Web site: Mention spéciale du Jury œcuménique 2020. Molodist Kyiv Film Festival. 2021-12-31.
  42. Web site: Grand Prix 2020. Zlin International Film Festival. 2021-12-31.
  43. Web site: Prix du Public - TV5 Monde 2020. Festival du film canadien de Dieppe. 2021-12-31.
  44. Web site: Prix Jean Malaurie 2020. Festival du film canadien de Dieppe. 2021-12-31.
  45. Web site: Prix Révélation : Sharon Fontaine-Ishpatao 2020. Festival du film canadien de Dieppe. 2021-12-31.
  46. Web site: Prix de la Ville de Dieppe 2020. Festival du film canadien de Dieppe. 2021-12-31.
  47. Web site: Prix du Zonta Club 2020. Festival du film canadien de Dieppe. 2021-12-31.
  48. Web site: Prix du Meilleur Long métrage 2020. Festival International du Film d’Aubagne. 2021-12-31.
  49. Web site: Mention spéciale à Sharon Fontaine-Ishpatao 2020. Festival International du Film d’Aubagne. 2021-12-31.
  50. Web site: Mention spéciale Jury Fiction 2020. Festival international du film sur les droits humains, Genève. 2021-12-31.
  51. Web site: Mention spéciale Jury des Jeunes 2020. Festival international du film sur les droits humains, Genève. 2021-12-31.
  52. https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1654288/kuessipan-film-long-metrage-gagnant-prix-laureats-laureates-rvqc-quebec-cinema "Les grands honneurs à Kuessipan, de Myriam Verreault, aux RVQC"
  53. Web site: Prix spécial du jury 2020. Festival International du Premier Film d'Annonay. 2021-12-31.
  54. Web site: Mention spéciale, Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award 2020. Göteborg Film Festival. 2021-12-31.
  55. Web site: Prix du Meilleur film canadien 2020. Cinoche - Festival de film international de Baie-Comeau. 2021-12-31.
  56. Marie-Christine Rioux, "Kuessipan, sacré meilleur long métrage canadien dans un festival international en Acadie". Ici Radio-Canada Côte-Nord, November 21, 2019.
  57. Kelly Townsend, "‘The Body Remembers’ wins two awards in VIFF’s BC Spotlight". Playback, October 9, 2019.
  58. https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2019/10/04/des-eloges-pour-le-film-kuessipan-dans-un-festival-international "Des éloges pour le film «Kuessipan» dans un festival international"

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