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The Necessities of Life
TITLE DETAILS

The Necessities of Life

2008-08-25 · 102 min · ★ 7.5

Drama

In 1952, an Inuit hunter named Tivii with tuberculosis leaves his northern home and family to go recuperate at a sanatorium in Quebec City. Uprooted, far from his loved ones, unable to speak French and faced with a completely alien world, he becomes despondent. When he refuses to eat and expresses a wish to die, his nurse, Carole, comes to the realization that Tivii's illness is not the most serious threat to his well-being. She arranges to have a young orphan, Kaki, transferred to the institution. The boy is also sick, but has experience with both worlds and speaks both languages. By sharing his culture with Kaki and opening it up to others, Tivii rediscovers his pride and energy. Ultimately he also rediscovers hope through a plan to adopt Kaki, bring him home and make him part of his family

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Production details

Directors
Benoît Pilon
Production companies
Téléfilm Canada, Astral Media, Société Radio-Canada, Super Écran, APTN, ACPAV, SODEC
Countries
Canada
Status
Released

Top Cast

Natar UngalaaqNatar UngalaaqTiivii
Éveline GélinasÉveline GélinasCarole
Paul-André BrasseurKaki
Louise MarleauLouise MarleauSoeur Luce
Guy ThauvetteGuy ThauvetteDr. Montpetit
Antoine BertrandAntoine BertrandRoger
Vincent-Guillaume OtisVincent-Guillaume OtisJoseph
Denis BernardDenis BernardPère Millaire
Luc ProulxLuc ProulxL'horloger
Miali BuscemiQupanuaq
Ann-Sophie ArcherInfirmière de jour
Alexandre ThériaultPatient jaloux
Frédérick BouffardFrédérick BouffardPatient agonisant
Caroline TanguayInfirmière de nuit
Jacques-Henri GagnonJacques-Henri GagnonL'archevêque
Serge BoninL'aumônier
Guillaume SaladinInterprète blanc
Pierre-Antoine Simard-LafondAide-infirmier
Stéphane-Antoine ComtoisMembre d'équipage
ÉlisapieÉlisapieMère inuk malade

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