Bakary Cafe

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

Steve Jobs (Stanford Commencement Address)

I went back to Canada House last night for the screening of Before Tomorrow.

I knew nothing about the film, apart from the small synopsis which sounded intriguing: “Before Tomorrow is the story of a woman who demonstrates that human dignity is at the core of life from beginning to end, as she faces with her grandson the ultimate challenge of survival”. (Source: http://www.beforetomorrow.ca/)

Adapted from the novel For morgendagen (by the Danish writer Jørn Riel), the story captures what happens when a secluded Inuit tribe comes into contact with Europeans, with catastrophic effects.

It certainly made me aware that we all have a responsibility when visiting other countries and coming into contact with people. Who we are and what we do affects other people and their way of life. And not always in a good way. It also powerfully makes you wonder what you would do when faced with the hardest decision you will have to make for yourself and the ones you love…

Such a sad story. So sad…

Before Tomorrow could almost give Breaking the Waves a run for its money as the saddest film I have ever seen.

The scenery however was astounding and you can tell that these people are proud of where they live and that they don’t take the beauty around them for granted. Yes, it’s stunning… but the conditions there are so harsh.

There’s one more screening at Canada House next week (contact Canada House to register for tickets):
Passage, 20 October 2009

North West Passage is on at the NMM until 3 January 2010.

The Canada High Commission in London is hosting a series of (free) screenings to coincide with the North-West Passage exhibition, which is currently on at National Maritime Museum.

Last night, I went to the screening of Atanajurat: The Fast Runner. The film, which came out in 2003, was made by an Inuit director, with an Inuit cast.

The film is not just an adaptation from an inuit legend, it also gives amazing insights into the lives of the Inuit people: the harsh conditions they face daily in their search for food, warmth and shelter; their customs and their structure. The landscapes were amazing. All very fascinating.

Further screenings at Canada House (contact Canada House to register for tickets):
- Before Tomorrow, 13 October 2009
- Passage, 20 October 2009

North West Passage is on at the NMM until 3 January 2010.