The Journals of Knud Rasmussen to Kick of TIFF 2006

Well, no slacking off at the Toronto International Film Festival offices, no sir. The 2006 edition doesn't unspool until September and those wacky TIFF keeners have already gone and announced the opening night Gala. The opening slot always goes to a high profile Canadian film and they've made a fine choice here.

The Journals of Knud Rasmussen is the new film by Zacharias Kunuk whose Atanarjuat The Fast Runner won massive critical acclaim around the worl for its portrayal of Inuit culture. Kunuk will be staying close to home on this one. "Set in and around Igloolik in 1922, THE JOURNALS OF KNUD RASMUSSEN is the story of the last great Inuit shaman, Avva, and his beautiful and headstrong daughter, Apak, who lives one foot in her father's world and the other on the verge of the future. As Avva strives to keep his family together on their path into the twentieth century, where the rise of Christianity and commerce is putting a swift end to their culture, a team of Danish scientists arrives to make record of his way of life."

Read the full TIFF press release here.