Kuessipan

(Canada / 2019 / Directed by Myriam Verreault)

Adapted from a novel about two best friends growing up together in a Quebec Innu community, Myriam Verreault’s first feature was co-written with the book’s First Nations author, Naomi Fontaine. Kuessipan means “your turn” in the Innu language, a title chosen to mark the notion that it is the Innu people’s turn to tell their story. Kate Taylor of Toronto’s Globe and Mail writes, “Kuessipan is quiet and mesmerizing and tragic and full of hope. It is a triumph, and a privilege to spend time with,” and we agree.

Mikuan (Sharon Fontaine-Ishpatao) and Shaniss (Yamie Gregoire) grew up as best friends, but in young adulthood find themselves with diverging ambitions. Mikuan, who was raised by a loving family, is a college student who aspires to become a writer, and Shaniss is a young mother struggling to pick up the pieces from a shattered childhood. When Mikuan falls in love with a white boy and starts to consider a life beyond their tiny reserve, the friends clash and their bond is put to the test. An artful coming-of-age story told with humor, tenderness, and heartbreak, Kuessipan is a poignant exploration of people’s evolving lives and the cultural roots that keep them connected.

“The Innu voice is ever present, which is so important as it offers a glimpse into their lives without a Colonial perspective. It’s a feature that, while seemingly an obvious advantage, is hardly ever utilized for similar films. It means that audiences can enter the world in a respectful manner – which isn’t to say the film shies away from the issues, but it does mean that those issues are approached in a confident and dignified way.” – Joel Kalkopf, Switch

G / 1 hr 57 mins.
In English, French, and Montagnais with English subtitles