The Grizzlies

Directed by: Miranda de Pencier
Cast: Emerald MacDonald, Ben Schnetzer, Paul Nutarariaq, Ricky Marty-Pahtaykan, Booboo Stewart and Tantoo Cardinal
Drama/Biography | 14A for coarse language, substance abuse and disturbing content | 104 min. | English and Inuktitut with English subtitles | Canada

SCREENING:

Saturday, October 20 – 2:00 pm [Q&A with Miranda de Pencier]
Sunday, October 21 – 1:15 pm

Get your tickets here!

“It’s a fascinating puzzle: a film that is simultaneously an indictment of the toxic legacy of cultural imperialism and a weepie that employs the familiar tropes of Hollywood, one of the biggest machines of cultural imperialism on the planet.” – Simon Houpt, GLOBE AND MAIL

“The Grizzlies is more than the typical inspiring sports drama because this film offers us hope.” – Danielle Solsman, SOLZY AT THE MOVIES

Producer Miranda de Pencier (Beginners) takes on directorial duties with The Grizzlies, a Canadian feature based on a true story about the transformative power that sport and camaraderie can have on a community. Set in 1998, the film features Russ Sheppard (Ben Schnetzer) as a young teacher who has just moved to Kugluktuk, Nunavut — a community which had one of the highest suicide rates in North America at that time. When it comes to his attention that one of his students, Kyle (Booboo Stewart) is using the school storage bins to seek refuge from his abusive father, Russ decides to start an after-school lacrosse program in an attempt to offer students a safe space. Although the school principal, Janace (Tantoo Cardinal), agrees to provide funding for the team, Miranda (Emerald MacDonald), another of Russ’ students, cautions him that no one will join the team unless he can convince a select group of boys to sign up.