And believe me,we need good more good quality films from Canada (and thankfully,I'm pleased to report that this film is said such film). 'Ce qu'il faut pour vivre',or as it is being distributed in English speaking countries as 'The Necessities Of Life' is taken from true accounts of an outbreak of tuberculosis in Canada,as well as North America,from just after the end of World War 2 (1946),until the mid,to late 1950's. In this case,the story centers on Tivii,an Inuit hunter & family man (played by Natar Ungalaaq,star of 'Atanarjuat:The Fast Runner'),who had contracted TB,and had to be detained in Quebec, in the south of Canada,for rest cure. While there,he experiences isolation and loneliness. When he tries to escape & walk the distance back home (without success),he resigns himself to just try & get better. During his stay,he befriends a kind hearted nurse,Carole (played by a radiant Eveline Gelinas,star of several films for Canadian television,as well as cinema),and a young 10 year-old Inuit boy,named Kaki (played by first timer,Paul Andre Brasseur),who turns out to be an orphan. Tivii takes a real shine to both the boy,as well as Carole,and the three form a bond of friendship. Film maker,Benoit Pilon,who's previously directed mainly documentaries for Canadian Television,turns to his first time directing a fictional film (but based on actual events from Canadian history),from a screenplay written by veteran fellow Canadian writer/director, Bernard Emond (The Lady Who Drinks)to create a fine film that can easily touch the heart & warm the human spirit. This was Canada's entry into the Academy Awards for best foreign language film for 2008 (but obviously got the s**t end of the stick). Spoken in Inuktitut & French with English subtitles. Rated PG by the MPAA,this film serves up a rude word,or two,and the horrors of tuberculosis.
Review of Ce qu'il faut pour vivre
