(upbeat music)
When people ask where I'm from, I say,
Think of the furthest place north you've ever been.
Now keep going.
Keep going.
Yep, that's us.
Ice cove, nunavut.
The heart of the arctic.
Now, most southerners think we're...
♪ (song being sung in inuktitut) ♪
And while all that's technically true,
I am a modern inuk woman.
Whatever that means.
All my life, I've tried to do everything right.
I got married out of high school, started a family,
And now he's the town golden boy, and I'm...
His wife.
But it's springtime in the arctic,
Which is kind of like our new year's.
And this year, I'm finally putting myself first.
I'm gonna get a job, reconnect with friends,
Be the best mom, and maybe even...
(ting) come on, babe. No one's gonna be looking at you anyways.
Coming!
Did I mention, change my life?
("welcome to my island" by caroline polachek)
♪ desire ♪
♪ hey, hey, hey, hey ♪
♪ I wanna turn into you ♪
♪ desire ♪
♪ hey, hey, hey, hey ♪
♪ I wanna turn into you ♪
-Bye, babies! -(siaja and bun) bye!
-(bun) love you! -Love you!
Why does ataata always take the truck?
Grandma's ski-doo is way cooler, anyway.
I don't think that's gonna hold.
Sure it will.
("levitating" by dua lipa sung in inuktitut)
♪ qimassiqatiqatiginga, malinnga ♪
♪ qaujimajunga, ullurianut ♪
♪ sanngijumi ippinaqtu nallinnivu, ♪
♪ nijjaajju, utiqtaqtu ♪
♪ qilliqtut ijiikkik ♪
♪ qaumajut piugijanni ♪
♪ inutuujaaruvit piqatiqarumaguvi ♪
♪ naammanaattiaqannga ♪
Hi!
♪ pilaunnga pigumagakkit ♪
♪ piapi ♪
♪ ikiaqqigama ♪
♪ aviguti suttikkilaurlu ♪
♪ yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ ivvit, taqqiq ♪
♪ ulluriaq, nunarjua ♪
♪ uvaguk, unnua ♪
♪ mumiqatiginnga ♪
♪ ivvit, taqqiq ♪
♪ ulluriaq, nunarjua ♪
♪ uvaguk, unnua ♪
♪ mumiqatiginnga ♪
- Good luck, boy! -(man) hey, good morning.
Hey.
What are you gonna do at grandma's?
I'm gonna have a party!
♪ titiqsimajut ullurianit ♪
♪ namutuinnaarunnaqqugu piapi ♪
(loud clattering)
(bun) mm-hmm!
-(sighs) -(door creaks)
(siaja) hey!
(speaking in inuktitut)
-Mom? -(neevee) hey!
You said you were dropping off bun at ten.
I'm sorry, I'm early. I just-- um, it's just that...
-Hello. -Hi, baby.
...I'm applying for a job today.
Oh!
-A job, job? -Yeah, why is that weird?
(distant clattering)
-What was that? -Huh?
I have to open up the shop. Bun?
-Eww! -No! No! Give me that.
Ah! Let's, uh... You can turn the lights on.
Come on, you! Let's open this door.
(door creaks)
(bun humming softly)
Why do you all of a sudden need a job anyway?
I don't need a job. I want a job.
Is ting okay?
I mean, I thought pilots made good money.
This isn't about ting or money.
This is about me.
I want to have something of my own.
Well, then learn how to sew,
Because I'm tired of fixing your parkas.
(door creaks)
Oh. Hey, ladies.
(sighs) wrong door, handsome.
(siaja) hey, wait!
Where were you the fall of '98?
-Uh... -This might sound crazy, but...
-Are you my dad? -(bun) huh?
I thought santa was my grandpa!
Uh...
I'm not sure what to do with that, so I'm just gonna leave.
-(chuckling) -(door bell chiming)
Every time, huh?
-I love you. -I love you!
Hey, be good.
Never.
(bell on door jingles)
You want to help me sort bullets?
Yeah!
-(quirky, upbeat music) -(low hum of chatter)
(colin over radio) the festival schedule is all online, folks.
Yes, the seal hunt is this afternoon, and yes,
The naming of the festival king and queen is tonight.
And to keep up the sweet spring festival vibe this weekend,
Here's a classic.
(siaja) sorry, sorry.
(funky, fast-paced music)
(sighs heavily)
♪
(music distorts, ends)
(siaja speaking inuktitut)
-Coffee? -Oh, thank you.
That is sweet, but aren't there 50 other things
You could be doing as a volunteer?
Hey, uh, do you have five minutes?
I'd love to run an idea by you.
Five minutes max. My office.
Yes! All right.
By the way, congratulations on another successful festival.
Suck up.
Well, thank god it's almost over.
I can't do any more 14-hour days.
I know, it's too much for one person.
And everything falls on my desk.
Managing garbage collection,
Power outages, boil water advisory.
Still nothing as important as our little four-day festival.
That is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about.
(helen) well, chop-chop, siaja. I'm a busy woman.
You know how the festival is all,
"woo-hoo! We didn't die this winter. And--"
Uh-uh. It's a celebration of life, siaja.
Exactly, so I've been thinking,
Why not have more cultural programming year-round?
Didn't you hear me? I told you I'm exhausted.
Then hire me.
-Hire you? -As a program coordinator.
I put together a list of grants and different opportunities.
Oh, I get-- I get really cold whenever I have to tell someone
The truth about themselves.
Siaja, you have a wonderful imagination.
And you've been a perfectly adequate festival volunteer.
But you have zero work experience,
And even less leadership skills.
But I see life and beauty everywhere, and...
(door creaks open)
Where should I put these fish heads?
Um, uh--
Deep freezer in the commissary.
All right, thank you.
Look, right now you're thinking about what you need.
I've been here for a while now,
And if there's one thing I've learned,
It's that the inuit culture cares most
About what the community needs.
Give my best to ting.
Captaining his first festival hunt?
You must be so proud.
(sighs)
Okay, here's the plan for tonight.
Pre-drinks at your place,
Back here for the closing ceremony,
-And then-- -(colin) party 'til midnight.
(millie) no, party 'til dawn, colin.
Dawn? That's way too late.
(muffled screaming)
-Something wrong? -(siaja sighs)
I wrote up a whole proposal for a job here,
And helen didn't even open it.
Why do you even want to work here?
I thought you liked playing house.
Because I...
Want to make our community a better place.
-(colin scoffs) -(siaja) fine.
I need something of my own, okay?
Bun is in school now, and her world's getting bigger.
And I'm jealous of a child.
(sighs) I need this job, or I will explode.
Or worse, I will--
Become a sinner like your mum?
(colin) nah, your mum's a legend. (chuckles)
Listen, they don't call me the helen whisperer for nothing.
-Nobody calls you that, colin. -She doesn't know that.
Have you tried crying?
Millie! Cost report!
Colin! Radio! Siaja! Beach!
-What about a petition? -Huh?
I will get you a petition that proves
The community wants more cultural programming.
-And then will you hire me? -No.
Helen, please, just give me a chance to prove myself.
-Okay, get me 500 signatures. -(siaja) what?
That's like a quarter of the town.
By the end of today.
Piece of cake.
Hey, elisapee.
You want to be my first signature?
Nope.
("nuvujakkut" by joshua haulli)
♪
(community laughing and shouting)
You, sir, do you want to sign my petition?
Uh-huh.
(speaking in inuktitut)
(community laughing and shouting)
(siaja) hey, sign right here.
♪
(man) one, two, three...
(speaking in inuktitut)
(snowmobiles roaring)
♪
(all laughing)
(excited shouting)
♪
(speaking in inuktitut)
(rhythmic drumming)
♪
-Hi. -Hi.
-Can I get a macchiato? -Hate to break it to you,
But you're not down south anymore, toto.
Oh, what makes you think I'm from the south?
-I like the pea coat, though. -Yeah? Thanks.
-Oh. -(chuckles)
-You're making fun of me. -No, I would never.
-Not your face, anyway. -Oh.
I would do it behind your back.
Like a respectable modern inuk woman.
Oh! I need signatures.
Sure, yeah.
What's this? What, uh--
Uh, a petition for community programming,
Like language classes, parka making, coffee nights.
I just feel like we're all
A bit starved for connection, you know?
I'll put my number down, too, just in case you want it.
-(ting) siaja! -No, no, actually--
-I needed to talk to my wife! -Whoa, okay.
My assistant bailed. It's a bad case of seal finger.
I need you to come hunting.
Ting, I'm working.
You're a volunteer, siaja.
Nobody's gonna notice you're gone.
-Ting, I put so much effort-- -babe, I'm sorry.
You know how much this means to me.
My dad used to win this event every year.
I want to do him proud.
Fine. I just have to put my stuff--
-Aah! -Aah! Ting!
-I've gotta put some stuff away. -No, no, come on.
Let's go. We've gotta get ready.
You've gotta get your head in the game.
Hey, you wanna...
-Sign this petition? -Sure.
Let's take this moment to thank the seals,
-And our hunters! -(all cheering)
Remember, this hunt is not about prizes, not about glory.
It's about filling our bellies!
(all cheering)
In the name of jesus, amen!
Stop. This isn't church.
Listen up, remember,
The arctic ocean is freezing cold.
Be safe at the floe edge.
All right, thank you, thank you, helen, for your wisdom.
Ahem! Now.
Ready... Set--
(speaking in inuktitut)
(all cheering)
(man) come on, come on, come on!
See you at the floe edge!
(snowmobiles rumble)
(upbeat, majestic music)
(boat rumbles)
(boat engine idles)
(sighs)
Um-- (clears throat)
Ting, can we talk?
Yeah, babe.
Ah, isn't this great?
Look at our life. We're so lucky, right?
Here, take a picture of me.
Um...
(speaking in inuktitut)
-Ooh! -(camera shutter clicks)
-(siaja) so, ting? -(ting laughs)
You like that? I know you like this one.
Nice! (laughs) it looks so good.
-Ting, listen to me. -Hashtag, king ting.
Hashtag, inuk hunter.
I asked for a job at the community centre.
What?
I need to do something with my life.
You know, something besides being your wife.
Well, you can't get a job, not now.
We agreed I'd stay home 'til bun was in school.
-She's seven, right? -Okay.
I was gonna wait, and tell you and bun together.
But...
We're having another baby!
I'm not pregnant, ting.
(laughs) no, it's my cousin.
She's expecting, and she asked us to adopt.
I said yes.
-Without talking to me first. -You need this.
And bun needs this.
It's no good for her to be an only kid, you know that.
I don't want another kid, ting!
I want my own life.
That's really messed up, siaja.
My mother always said having me was the best thing she ever did.
-Ting, behind you. -I mean,
-What kind of a inuk woman-- -ting, a seal!
Oh, shit.
(suspenseful music)
(gunshot booms)
Ha ha! Yes!
Get the nets in.
(boat engine roars)
-Whoa! -(loud splash)
(boat rumbles)
(siaja grunting)
(groaning)
(gentle music)
(whale song echoes)
♪
(music swells)
(ting grunting) siaja!
(paramedic) you're really lucky to be alive.
Your body's in shock, but you'll be okay.
(helen) our insurance can't handle this.
You're off volunteer duty.
(ting) I mean, yes, I lost the seal, but...
What's a seal compared to a life?
(woman) thank god you were there to pull her out.
Excuse me a sec.
(woman speaking in inuktitut)
(somber music)
You made me look like a frickin' idiot.
Like I'm a shitty hunter.
You get that, right?
You're an embarrassment.
I've gotta go get my gear.
(ting groans)
(gentle music)
(colin) you okay?
Can you give me a ride to my mom's?
Yeah.
You got 20 bucks?
(siaja chuckles wryly)
♪
(neevee) I know, ting. Just give it some time.
Yeah, yeah, I'll talk to her. Okay.
(neevee sighs)
Well, that was your husband calling for the ninth time.
-(sighs) -I don't want to speak to him.
Fine. But ting is inuk, all right?
He's not gonna play guitar outside your window,
Like those movies you like to watch.
I am so sick of being the good housewife.
I went from taking care of you to taking care of him.
Hey, I've been sober for 10 years.
Yeah, and I've barely lived.
Ugh! I need some air.
You're acting like a white girl with options!
(siaja growling)
You're still good for bun to sleep over?
-Of course. -Thank you!
(text message chimes)
Arghh!
(screaming ferociously)
(splashing)
(energetic music)
(breathing deeply)
♪ try to reach the stars ♪
♪ baby ♪
(colin) oh, this coat is really working for you.
I haven't been to a party in, like, seven years.
Ting likes to keep me to himself.
Well, glad you came. (clears throat)
Partying is like riding a bike while drunk.
(laughs) okay.
I know how to get drunk.
I'm ready to start my new life.
Let's do this.
You are ready to take on the world.
When I fell in the ocean, I think I died and saw nuliajuk.
Excuse me?
Hey!
I love this song!
("uh huh" by dijah sb playing)
♪ uh huh 'cause we fancy success ♪
♪ I just had an epiphany ♪
Woo! Let's go dance!
(partygoers laugh and chatter)
♪ they all have more sympathies than class ♪
(siaja) save me some, okay?
Who's the silver fox?
(colin) that's alistair.
He's some kind of environmental consultant.
♪
♪ you need more, more stamina ♪
♪ you need more, more ♪
-Watch it! -(scoffs)
-Ting know you're here? -(siaja) no.
-You don't deserve him. -You know what, lucy?
If you love ting so much, why don't you go screw him?
(gasps)
Gross! He's my cousin!
(chuckles) so hard to remember who's related.
Come. This way.
(speaking in inuktitut)
Pea coat boy.
Petition girl.
Hey. I heard about your accident. That's...
-I'm glad you're okay. -Aww.
Were you worried about me?
Mm, just a little bit.
I'm worried about you.
She saw nuliajuk, as in the sea goddess?
You saw what now?
I don't know.
I saw... Something down there.
Shit.
You got any shamans in your bloodline?
Your mom would know.
(chuckling)
That's the most native shit I've ever heard.
Awesome.
You guys are being serious?
-Yeah. -Oh, nuts.
(glass shattering)
Guys, I bought plastic cups!
(millie) I'll get the broom.
Oh.
You into shamans?
(sighs) I-- I'm flattered. I just...
I don't want to cause any problems here.
-Yeah, good luck with that. -Well, I just mean,
Your husband's a little overprotective
-And I don't want to-- -whatever, city boy.
I am a strong, independent indian woman
And I can talk to whoever she wants to.
Maybe you should switch to water.
(siaja gasps)
That's not what I meant.
I'm so sick of people telling me what I can and can't do.
Delaney, hit me!
♪ hit me, baby, one more time ♪
♪ my loneliness is killing me ♪
♪ and I ♪
♪ I must confess-- ♪
Oh, shit.
Hi.
(alistair) oh.
Okay. Seems like you're having a bit of a night.
(scoffs) what makes you think that?
(chuckles) here.
I hear you're some kind of fancy consultant.
Only by day.
So, do you know my name, too?
No.
-It's alistair. -Alistair.
(both chuckling)
I'm siaja.
And what do you do around here, siaja?
-Technically unemployed. -(alistair) mm-hmm.
But I've got big plans.
Even if everyone thinks I'm a quiet little nobody.
That's not the impression I get.
No?
You seem pretty bold to me.
Like a woman who knows exactly what she wants and just...
Grabs it.
Oh, I...
I-- I wasn't expecting that.
♪
(both chuckling)
Oh, hey, boss.
-(alistair) oh, hey. -Boss?
Hey, uh, you left this at the beach.
I was gonna give it to colin, but...
My petition.
All the signatures?
Wow, thank you.
(speaking in inuktitut)
(colin) we're late for the closing ceremony. Everybody out.
You can come back for the after party.
Well, gentlemen...
I bid you good evening.
I've got a dream I need to see through.
Okay.
Good luck.
(jaunty fiddle music)
Okay, give it up for the ice cove players, everyone.
Helen, 500 signatures.
(scoffs) not now.
Gotta love those scottish whalers
Introducing these fresh dance moves to us northerners.
(crowd cheering)
And now for the funnest award of the festival.
You know what I'm talking about.
(speaking in inuktitut)
It's the award for best bumhopper.
(speaking in inuktitut)
And it goes to... Alicia agul!
(crowd cheering)
Best bumhopper in town.
Look at her go.
And now for best... (speaking in inuktitut)
-(speaking in inuktitut) -shit.
-(sighs) -(helen) congratulations.
Where the hell have you been?
Are you drunk?
Yeah, but that's irrelevant.
What is wrong with you?
(scoffs) you're what's wrong with me.
You're embarrassing yourself. Again.
-You should go home. -I'm embarrassing?
You don't get to decide for me anymore.
What?
(helen) and now for the most coveted prize,
King and queen of the festival seal hunt.
And the award goes to our beloved
Ting miyak and his wife, siaja.
(crowd cheering)
We gotta go up there.
No, we don't, ting.
Come on up here, king ting.
(crowd chanting "king ting")
-Congratulations. -(crowd cheering)
Siaja, come stand with your king.
(ting) babe, come on.
(crowd chanting "siaja")
Siaja, come on, get up here.
Go on, get up there.
(sound distorting)
No!
I'm done.
We are done..
(crowd booing)
Screw all y'all!
(indistinct murmurs, shouts)
Give it up for king ting.
(siaja grunting)
(alistair) we'll be in touch, okay?
-(siaja) hey. -Hey.
Siaja, what are you doing?
Neevee?
Alistair?
Mom?
(neevee) what are you doing here?
You said you were never coming back.
(alistair) oh, no.
(siaja) wait.
No.
No, no, no, no, no.
(grandmother) ah.
I see you finally met your father.
(retching)
Loser.
(panting)
♪ (singing in inuktitut) ♪