Kuessipan is a Canadian drama film, directed by Myriam Verreault and released in 2019. An adaptation of Naomi Fontaine's eponymous novel, the script was co-written by Fontaine and Verreault. Its plot centres on Mikuan (Sharon Fontaine-Ishpatao) and Shaniss (Yamie Grégoire), two young Innu women in Uashat-Maliotenam, whose friendship is strained when Mikuan falls in love with a white man (Étienne Galloy) and plans to move away.
The film premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival and was a critical success, garnering praise for its cast and portrayal of Indigenous lives. Its theatrical release on October 4, 2019.
Plot The film centers on Mikuan and Shaniss, two childhood friends who grow up together in Uashat. Their lives diverge during high school, when Shaniss drops out and has a baby with her abusive boyfriend Greg while Mikuan plans to move away from the reservation and attend university in Quebec City so that she can follow her dream of becoming a writer.
When Mikuan begins dating Francis, a white boy from her writing workshop, her friendship with Shaniss becomes strained. Mikuan helps Shaniss move out from Greg, but they argue after Shaniss accuses Mikuan of rejecting her culture by entering a relationship with Francis and planning to move away.
Mikuan's life is disrupted by the sudden death of her brother, a promising hockey player, and her break up with Francis. She and Shaniss eventually revive their friendship but their lives diverge, as Mikuan becomes a successful author and writes a book about Shaniss.
Cast Sharon Fontaine-Ishpatao as Mikuan Yamie Grégoire as Shaniss Étienne Galloy as Francis Douglas Grégoire as Greg Brigitte Poupart as Enseignante
Production Development The title of the film and eponymous novel is an Innu-aimun word meaning "it's your turn", which Fontaine meant to mean "it’s my turn to talk, my turn for my people and I to talk about our community." Verreault approached Fontaine after reading her novel Kuessipan in 2012 and being "deeply affected" by it. Verreault had previously lived and worked with the Innu community and produced short films about the Innu communities on the North Shore. The two agreed to make a film adaptation together, and co-wrote the film's script together.
The original novel is a collection of stories based on Fontaine's experiences growing up in Uashat. Verreault described the book as "not at all adaptable" to film, so she and Fontaine went through a process of creating a singular narrative that captured the themes of the book. Several changes were made from the original novel to adapt it for the screen, including the creation of Mikuan and Shaniss, who are not present in the novel. Production and development of the film took seven years.
Casting The cast mostly included non-professional actors, from the Uashat community. Over 400 Innu actors took part in the casting process, with Verreault personally meeting with 200 of them. Twenty actors auditioned for the role of Mikuan, with fifteen actors auditioning for the role of Shaniss. Verreault invited three potential candidates for the role of Shaniss and two for the role of Mikuan to take part in a two-week workshop, after which Fontaine-Ishpatao and Grégoire were cast. The film was Fontaine-Ishpatao's debut role.
Filming Cinematographer Nicolas Canniccioni and Verreault shot the film in Innu Takuaikan Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam and Sept-Îles, Quebec. It was shot in the French and Innu-aimun languages.
Release The film premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. Its theatrical release in Quebec was held on October 4, 2019.
Reception The film has a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating universal critical acclaim. Sara Clements of Exclaim! gave the film an 8 out of 10, writing that the film focused on an Indigenous perspective to portray the culture and experiences of the Innu people.
Anne T. Donahue of The Globe and Mail gave the film 4 out of 4 stars, describing the performances of Fontaine-Ishpatao and Grégoire as "raw and unflinching". Erica Commanda of Muskrat Magazine also praised their performances, which she wrote were "down-to-earth and realistic".
Awards and nominations
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Canadian Cinema Editors 2 October 2020 Best Editing in a Feature Film Amélie Labrèche, Myriam Verreault, Sophie Leblond Canadian Screen Awards 28 May 2020 Best Supporting Actor Douglas Grégoire Best Supporting Actress Yamie Grégoire Best Adapted Screenplay Myriam Verreault, Naomi Fontaine Prix collégial du cinéma québécois 2020 Best Film Kuessipan "Antigone remporte le Prix collégial du cinéma québécois". Ici Radio-Canada, April 15, 2020. Prix Iris 10 June 2020 Best Film Félize Frappier Best Director Myriam Verreault Best Screenplay Myriam Verreault, Naomi Fontaine Best Cinematography Nicolas Canniccioni Revelation of the Year Sharon Fontaine-Ishpatao Best Casting Jacinthe Beaudet, Tobie Fraser, Geneviève Hébert, Myriam Verreault Most Successful Film Outside Quebec Québec City Film Festival 12–21 September 2019 Grand Prix de la Compétition – Long métrage Windsor International Film Festival 1–10 November 2019 Prize in Canadian Film Alexandre Courtemanche, "Kuessipan, meilleur film canadien au Festival international du film de Windsor". Ici Radio-Canada Côte-Nord, November 11, 2019. Trophées francophone du cinéma 2021 Prix du meilleur second rôle fémininYamie Grégoire San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle 2021 Special Citation in Independent Cinema Kuessipan Festival de cinéma québécois de Biscarosse 2021 Prix du public Kuessipan Festival International du film de femmes de Salé 2021 Grand Prix Kuessipan Yarha Festival 2021 Prix du Meilleur scénario Myriam Verreault, Naomi Fontaine Common Good International Film Festival 2021 Prix du Meilleur film Kuessipan National Indigenous Screen Awards 2020 Prix Meilleure actrice Sharon Fontaine-Ishpatao National Indigenous Screen Awards 2020 Meilleure actrice Yamie Grégoire Festival international du film d'éducation 2020 Prix du Meilleur long métrage de fiction Kuessipan Festival International du Film d'Amiens 2020 Grand Prix Kuessipan Minsk International Film Festival 2020 Prix du Meilleur film Kuessipan Festival Effervescence, Mâcon 2020 Prix du public Kuessipan Ohlalà Festival de cinema francòfon de Barcelona 2020 Mention spéciale du Jury des jeunes Kuessipan Nashville Film Festival 2020 Grand prix - Best narrative Feature Kuessipan Film by the Sea, Vlissingen 2020 Prix TV5 Monde - Meilleur film francophone Kuessipan Cinemagic Belfast 2020 Meilleur film de fiction Kuessipan Molodist Kyiv Film Festival 2020 Scythian Deer - Grand Prix (ex aequo) Kuessipan Molodist Kyiv Film Festival 2020 Mention spéciale du Jury œcuménique Kuessipan Zlin International Film Festival 2020 Grand Prix Kuessipan Festival du film canadien de Dieppe 2020 Prix du Public - TV5 Monde Kuessipan Festival du film canadien de Dieppe 2020 Prix Jean Malaurie Kuessipan Festival du film canadien de Dieppe 2020 Prix Révélation : Sharon Fontaine-Ishpatao Kuessipan Festival du film canadien de Dieppe 2020 Prix de la Ville de Dieppe Kuessipan Festival du film canadien de Dieppe 2020 Prix du Zonta Club Kuessipan Festival International du Film d’Aubagne 2020 Prix du Meilleur Long métrage Kuessipan Festival International du Film d’Aubagne 2020 Mention spéciale à Sharon Fontaine-Ishpatao Kuessipan Festival international du film sur les droits humains, Genève 2020 Mention spéciale Jury Fiction Kuessipan Festival international du film sur les droits humains, Genève 2020 Mention spéciale Jury des Jeunes Kuessipan Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma 2020 Prix Gilles-Carle du meilleur 1er ou 2e long métrage de fiction Kuessipan "Les grands honneurs à Kuessipan, de Myriam Verreault, aux RVQC". Ici Radio-Canada, March 8, 2020. Prix Jacques-Marcotte Meilleur scénario de long métrage de fiction Myriam Verreault, Naomi Fontaine Prix du jury en herbe Meilleur long métrage de fiction Kuessipan Festival International du Premier Film d'Annonay 2020 Prix spécial du jury Kuessipan Göteborg Film Festival 2020 Mention spéciale, Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award Kuessipan Cinoche - Festival de film international de Baie-Comeau 2020 Prix du Meilleur film canadien Kuessipan Festival international du cinéma francophone en Acadie 2019 Prix du Meilleur film canadien Kuessipan Marie-Christine Rioux, "Kuessipan, sacré meilleur long métrage canadien dans un festival international en Acadie". Ici Radio-Canada Côte-Nord, November 21, 2019. Vancouver International Film Festival 2019 Special Mention, Best Canadian Emerging Director Myriam Verreault Kelly Townsend, "‘The Body Remembers’ wins two awards in VIFF’s BC Spotlight". Playback, October 9, 2019. Festival international du film francophone de Namur 2019 Mention spéciale du jury Kuessipan "Des éloges pour le film «Kuessipan» dans un festival international". TVA Nouvelles, October 4, 2019.
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