What We See

While 'What We See' is a fictional narrative, it draws heavily on the real-life experiences and perspectives of its directors, Lucy Tulugarjuk and Carol Kunnuk, who also star as the sisters. The film's exploration of themes like leaving one's community, the impact of trauma, and the isolation of the pandemic, particularly in the Arctic, is informed by their personal backgrounds and insights, blurring the lines between cinematic storytelling and documentary sensibility.

Uyarak's journey is one of profound emotional upheaval, beginning with a traumatic event that compels her to leave her home and family in Nunavut for the unfamiliar environment of Montréal. The subsequent isolation imposed by the COVID-19 lockdowns further exacerbates her sense of separation, particularly from her sister Saqpinak. The film explores her navigation of grief, displacement, and the yearning for connection amidst these challenging circumstances.

The central performances are delivered by Lucy Tulugarjuk and Carol Kunnuk, who portray the sisters Uyarak and Saqpinak respectively. Their involvement extends beyond acting, as they are also the film's directors. The supporting cast includes Benjamin Kunuk, Madeline Ivalu, and Mark Taqqaugaq, contributing to the authentic portrayal of the community and family dynamics within the narrative.

Igloolik is an Inuit hamlet situated in the Foxe Basin, within the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada. It's the community from which Uyarak originates and the setting of a traumatic event that prompts her departure to Montréal. The film's grounding in this specific Arctic location provides a vital cultural context, shaping Uyarak's identity and the emotional weight of her experiences as she navigates life away from her homeland.

The COVID-19 lockdowns serve as a crucial catalyst, intensifying the characters' separation and amplifying the film's thematic exploration of distance and connection. For Uyarak, living in Montréal, the lockdowns create an even greater chasm between herself and her family, especially her sister Saqpinak, back in the isolated Canadian Arctic. This global event underscores the film's examination of how external circumstances can profoundly impact personal relationships and emotional well-being.

The film masterfully intertwines fictional narrative with the lived experiences of its creators. Directors Lucy Tulugarjuk and Carol Kunnuk not only helm the project but also star as the central sisters, Uyarak and Saqpinak. This dual role allows the narrative to draw directly from their personal journeys and perspectives, particularly in navigating the isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, blurring the conventional boundaries between filmmaking and authentic life.

'What We See' centres on Uyarak, who leaves her Inuit community in Nunavut for Montréal after a traumatic event. The narrative gains an added layer of complexity when COVID-19 lockdowns isolate the Canadian Arctic, further separating Uyarak from her sister, Saqpinak. This situation blurs the lines between fiction and the real lives of the film's directors, who also portray the sisters, creating a unique blend of personal and cinematic experience.