In the Reign of Twilight 1997
Distributed by Bullfrog Films, PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547; 800-543-FROG (3764)
Produced by Primitive Features
Directed by Kevin McMahon
VHS, color, 87 min.
High School - Adult
Anthropology
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Patricia Sarchet, Health Sciences Library, University at Buffalo"And you wonder," says the narrator, "if we got their icons what did Inuit get in return." In the Reign of Twilight is a lush sensuous film. The cinematography and colors are rich and vibrant. The wonderful Inuit language and musical instruments will take you quickly to alpha waves. The content is powerful yet filled with grace. There is a postmodern surreal feel to this powerfully political film which will bring no one peace at this point in history.
The opening scene is a primal experience of suddenly finding oneself in the Arctic. We tend to look at the Arctic as a desolate place, Inuit culture primative, illiterate, and poverty stricken. But the Arctic is home for the Inuit. Their culture is a rich tapestry woven through thouands of years of life. The white, male policy makers look at the Inuit differently, and director Kevin McMahon contrasts Inuit and Canadian male narratives to make the point.
One of the film's motifs is the US Air Force Distant Early Warning Line (DEW Line) which was built in and on the barrens where the Inuit lived and travelled for thousands of years. Because of the DEW Line the government realized they needed to make policy about the Inuit. They could no longer ignore their existance.
Political policy resulted in Inuit children being shipped off to boarding schools where they were forced to assimilate to western style culture, rapidly losing their Inuit heritage. Cash economy was introduced along with western medical and religous ideologies. In most cases the Inuit had no choice but to assilimate. The state was the guardian of aboriginal people.
From this land, Arctic, came Inuit music, dance, and art. The art was sold to the highest bidder at auctions and bought by museums. For many decades Inuit saw no economic gain from these transactions. Policy seemed good in the statehouse but on the ground it didn't work for Inuit.
This is an excellent and strong film about politics and the policies developed by white politicians for Inuit in Canada. It might be a bit long for some viewers but worth every minute of watching. The film has a slow pace with a one two punch. I would recommend it for graduate level students and faculty as well as anyone interested in Inuit.