Blood Brothers

By Jonathan Zubkoff

[1] The relationship between film protagonist Atanarjuat and his older brother Amaqjuaq is put on display from the very beginning of the film. This relationship is brought to the brink when Amaqjuaq is found intimately embracing Puja, The brotherhood appears to have healed until Amaqjuaq is brutally murdered by Oki. The following analysis will look into the brothers’ last moments together, the spirits in play during these last moments, and how one brother’s lifetime protection allowed for the other’s famous run.

[2] Atanarjuat and Amaqjuaq return from a day’s work, and after a quick scuffle and an apology from Puja, everything appears to be back to normal. The ominous music plays and the following few minutes appear to be the last will and testament of Amaqjuaq. Amaqjuaq in his dialogue appears to pass through multiple stages of making penance. He attempts to make his brother laugh by recounting a story of Oki’s demise. He attempts to make his brother feel sympathy towards him by saying his wife just got pregnant.

[3] Atanarjuat, meanwhile, is silent this entire scene. This is done, combined with the music, because it is clear that something bad is about to happen to Amaqjuaq. As stated by Puja earlier in the movie, Amaqjuaq and Puja really aren’t supposed to look at each other. Their infidelity is a crime that should be punished, and it is clear based on the aura of the scene that Amaqjuaq cannot talk himself out of this one and that there is a spiritual power in control here.

[4] The conversation between the brothers takes a great shift. Amaqjuaq completely apologizes for his wrongdoing and tells his brother that he wishes for a son exactly like him. This is significant because Amaqjuaq has always been the strong one who had to protect his weaker brother. His statement that he wants his son to be like his brother shows the tremendous bond that exists between them, as well as Amaqjuaq’s remorse and preeminent knowledge of his own death. It was almost as if he had one thing left to say to Atanarjuat, and it was “Raise my kid as your own,” the ultimate sign of respect.

[5] Atanarjuat does not verbally accept the apology. This is the last thing we hear from the two brothers in this scene. The scene shows Puja’s betrayal and Oki’s approach towards the waiting brothers. Atanarjuat during this process is shown to almost be a Demi-God. The only person to whom he has said a word since his return from the hunt is Atuat. Both Puja and Amaqjuaq have betrayed him to the point that even when Puja offers to do all the chores, he does not acknowledge her. The last sound we hear from Atanarjuat is a cough, indicating he has a higher level of awareness, both physically and spiritually, of the current situation than his doomed sleeping brother next to him.

[6] The approach of Oki is shot both from Oki’s point of view and the point of view from the tent. Any movement is shot from the view of the tent, in which the wide-angle camera slightly follows the team of killers. This is done to create a feeling that the brothers are sitting ducks. As Oki approaches, he begins to have doubts. Even though he has the perfect situation to attack, he still wants to make sure that they are asleep until finally moving in. Immediately after we see them approach, Atanarjuat in his sleep, appearing to be subconsciously aware of what is occurring, rolls over to a distance just outside of spear length. Although we have not heard or seen the spirits yet, they clearly are in play just as they were during the fight scene. Oki is possessed by the Evil Shaman, who continually has given Oki second thoughts or weakness in his moments of need. Atanarjuat has the spirit of the Walrus on his side in the form of Kumaglak, who also aided him during the fight and clearly is the reason he is placed out of harm’s way here.

[7] When Oki and his brothers reach the tent, they collapse it and begin stabbing. Oki draws blood but hears the evil laugh of the Shaman just as he had during the fight, and becomes distracted. Kumaglak appears and lets him know Amaqjuaq is running after him. We must remember that Oki knows Amaqjuaq to be the strong one. He was the one who would prevent him from getting to Atanarjuat. The mention of Amaqjuaq’s name causes Oki to forget about what he is doing and allows a naked Atanarjuat to escape the tent and begin his famous run. Amaqjuaq has successfully protected his little brother, as he was instructed to as a toddler, one final time.

[8] This scene shows a broken brotherhood. Atanarjuat refuses speak or even look at his brother during the entire thing. His principles are consistent with those presented throughout the film. We as a viewer don’t initially see it this way, but Amaqjuaq committed the worst crime short of murder in Inuit law. He is no better than Puja in the eyes of Atanarjuat and does not ever gain his brother’s forgiveness before his death. The Fast Runner is a film that combines everyday Inuit life with spirits that can’t remotely be comprehended today. The spirits in the film act as a jury in the background. The Inuits can go through their daily routines without needing the spirits. However, when serious situations arise, the Spirits will protect those who have earned their protection and will condemn those who earn their condemnation.

[9] There is a parallel between the “death” of Oki and the death of Amaqjuaq. Oki pleads forgiveness to his grandmother before he is banished from the village. He is forgiven for his mistakes but still has to leave to pay for his crimes. Amaqjuaq pleads for the forgiveness of his brother before his death. He still dies, but he gets the chance to protect his brother one last time through the spirit of Kumaglak.

[10] The Inuits represented in this movie, which is supposed to be a fair representation of actual Inuit life, live by a fairly simple code. Honor your family and respect those around you. If you fail to live up to this, you will pay for it. The characters in The Fast Runner that fail to live up to this all pay in the end. This includes Amaqjuaq, but at least he does the only thing he’s ever known how to do, and protects his little brother, allowing him to become the hero that he was meant to be.