{{about|a Canadian film|the social construct|Basic needs}} {{Infobox film | name = The Necessities of Life | native_name = {{infobox name module|fr|Ce qu'il faut pour vivre}} | image = The Necessities of Life.jpg | caption = | director = [[Benoît Pilon]] | producer = [[René Chénier]]<br />[[Bernadette Payeur]] | writer = [[Bernard Émond]] | starring = [[Natar Ungalaaq]] | music = [[Robert Marcel Lepage]] | cinematography = [[Michel La Veaux]] | editing = [[Richard Comeau]] | studio = [[Association coopérative de productions audio-visuelles|ACPAV]] | distributor = [[Seville Pictures]] | released = {{Film date|2008|08|25|Montréal World Film Festival|2008|08|28|Canada}} | runtime = 102 minutes | country = Canada | language = French<br />[[Inuktitut language|Inuktitut]] | budget = | gross = }} '''''The Necessities of Life''''' ({{langx|fr|'''Ce qu'il faut pour vivre'''}}) is a 2008 Canadian drama film directed by [[Benoît Pilon]] and starring [[Natar Ungalaaq]], [[Éveline Gélinas]] and [[Paul-André Brasseur]]. Told in both [[French language|French]] and [[Inuktitut language|Inuktitut]], the film is about an [[Inuit|Inuk]] man who is sent to [[Quebec]] for [[tuberculosis]] treatment.
The film was shot in [[Iqaluit]], [[Nunavut]] and [[Quebec City]]. It received positive reviews and won four [[29th Genie Awards|Genie Awards]], including [[Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Award for Best Achievement in Direction|Best Direction]] for Pilon, and the Special Grand Prize of the Jury of the [[Montreal World Film Festival]].
==Plot== In 1952, a [[Indian hospital|tuberculosis epidemic]] is sweeping [[Northern Canada]], and numerous [[Inuit]] are compelled by the government to seek treatment in the lower provinces. One Inuk man from [[Baffin Island]], Tiivii, arrives at a [[sanatorium]] in [[Quebec City]]. He is treated by a [[French Canadian]] nurse, Carole. An orphaned boy, Kaki, also spends time with Tiivii in the institution.
Tiivii struggles with the language barrier, being unable to speak French. Kaki speaks both French and Inuktitut, and can translate conversations between Tiivii and Carole. However, the relationship becomes awkward when Tiivii, through Kaki, asks Carole for sex. Kaki had advised him it was a bad idea, citing his greater understanding of [[white people]], though Tiivii felt he had a better understanding of women. Tiivii hopes to adopt Kaki.
==Cast== {{Cast listing| *[[Natar Ungalaaq]] as Tiivii *[[Éveline Gélinas]] as Carole *[[Paul-André Brasseur]] as Kaki *[[Denis Bernard (actor)|Denis Bernard]] as Father Millaire *[[Louise Marleau]] as Sister Luce *[[Antoine Bertrand]] as Roger *Guy Thauvette as Dr. Montpetit *Luc Proulx *[[Vincent-Guillaume Otis]] as Joseph }}
==Production== When director [[Benoît Pilon]] read [[Bernard Émond]]'s screenplay, he wanted Inuk actor [[Natar Ungalaaq]] as the lead role after seeing him in the 2001 Inuit film ''[[Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner]]''.<ref name="Lapointe">{{Cite news|title=Le déracinement d'un inuit |last=Lapointe |first=Bruno |date=24 August 2008 |work=[[Canoe.ca]]}}</ref> Ungalaaq read the screenplay, and found the story personal as his real-life grandfather was diagnosed with tuberculosis during the historical epidemic in the 1950s. He did not disclose this story to the media until after the film was complete.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/archives/2009/904/90410/news/nunavut/90410_2066.html |title=Natar Ungalaaq harvests two best actor awards |date=10 April 2009 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[The Nunatsiaq News]]}}</ref> For his role as Kaki, [[Paul-André Brasseur]], who lived in [[Montreal]] and spoke French, learned his Inuktitut lines with Ungalaaq's aid.<ref name="George">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/Natar_is_not_a_great_Inuit_actor_hes_a_great_actor/ |title=Natar is not a great Inuit actor he's a great actor |last=George |first=Jane |date=11 September 2008 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[The Nunatsiaq News]]}}</ref>
The budget was $4 million.<ref>{{cite news |last=Szklarski |first=Cassandra |date=20 January 2009 |title=Montreal filmmaker Benoit Pilon surprised by his Oscar shot |publisher=[[The Canadian Press]]}}</ref> Filming took place over nearly a year, in numerous locations.<ref name="Lapointe"/> Arctic scenes were shot around [[Iqaluit]], [[Nunavut]], and other scenes were shot in [[Quebec City]], [[Quebec]].<ref name="George"/>
==Release== The film was first screened at the [[Montreal World Film Festival]] and at the [[Théâtre Maisonneuve]] on 25 August 2008. It opened in wider Quebec theatres on 29 August,<ref name="Kelly">{{Cite web|url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/movies/ce-quil-faut-pour-vivre-marks-strong-debut-for-quebec-in-competition |title=Ce qu'il faut pour vivre marks strong debut for Quebec in competition |last=Kelly |first=Brendan |date=25 August 2008 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[The Montreal Gazette]]}}</ref> and was re-released in Montreal, Quebec City and [[Sherbrooke]] on 3 April 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/cinema/242841/ce-qu-il-faut-pour-vivre-de-retour-en-salles |title=Ce qu'il faut pour vivre de retour en salles |date=31 March 2009 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[Le Devoir]]}}</ref>
After the film was submitted for consideration for the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]], [[Entertainment One]] granted distribution rights for the United States to [[IFC Films]] in January 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ifc-grabs-rights-necessities-life-77434 |title=IFC grabs rights to 'Necessities of Life' |last=Vlessing |first=Etan |date=9 January 2009 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> Entertainment One re-released the film in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]] and [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]] in April 2009.<ref name="Strauss">{{Cite web|url=http://playbackonline.ca/2009/04/07/necessities-20090407/ |title=Second life for Necessities |last=Strauss |first=Marise |date=7 April 2009 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[Playback (magazine)|Playback]]}}</ref>
==Reception== ===Critical response=== The film received critical acclaim.<ref name="Strauss"/> ''The Necessities of Life'' has an approval rating of 60% on [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], based on 5 reviews, and an average rating of 6.2/10.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1208585-necessities_of_life | title=The Necessities of Life | website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] }}</ref>
In Canada, {{ill|Marc-André Lussier|fr}} of ''[[La Presse (Canadian newspaper)|La Presse]]'' called the film beautiful and [[Natar Ungalaaq]] strong and charismatic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/201207/23/49-1084-ce-quil-faut-pour-vivre.php |title=Ce qu'il faut pour vivre : belle entrée québécoise au FFM |last=Lussier |first=Marc-André |date=26 August 2008 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[La Presse (Canadian newspaper)|La Presse]]}}</ref> ''[[The Montreal Gazette]]'''s Brendan Kelly called it "quite simply one of the best [[Cinema of Quebec|Quebecois films]] of the year."<ref name="Kelly"/> Normand Provencher of ''La Presse'' described it as intelligent and beautiful.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/201207/23/49-1084-ce-quil-faut-pour-vivre.php |title=Ce qu'il faut pour vivre: la maladie de l'exil |last=Provencher |first=Normand |date=31 August 2008 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[La Presse (Canadian newspaper)|La Presse]]}}</ref> In ''[[Maclean's]]'', [[Brian D. Johnson]] assessed the film as "an immaculately crafted, deeply distressing drama," albeit difficult to watch given the subject matter. Johnson said Ungalaaq displayed grace, but at times was depicted as a [[noble savage]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.macleans.ca/authors/brian-d-johnson/the-seductions-of-history/ |title=The Seductions of History |last=Johnson |first=Brian D. |date=20 February 2009 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[Maclean's]]}}</ref> Linda Barnard, writing for ''[[The Toronto Star]]'', called it "A gentle yet moving story," and praised Ungalaaq.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2009/02/20/ce_quil_faut_pour_vivre_the_necessities_of_life_moving_story.html |title=Ce qu'il faut pour vivre (The Necessities of Life): Moving story |last=Barnard |first=Linda |date=20 February 2009 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[The Toronto Star]]}}</ref> Following Quebec's [[Prix Iris|Jutra Awards]], MP [[Marcel Proulx]] told the [[House of Commons of Canada]] in March 2009 that the film was a powerful statement on the distinct cultures of [[Nunavik]] and the rest of Quebec. MP [[Roger Pomerleau]] also publicly congratulated Ungalaaq.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=F&Mode=1&DocId=3781662 |title=40th Parliament, 2 E Session Edited Hansard • Number 036 |date=30 March 2009 |accessdate=7 January 2017 |work=[[Parliament of Canada]]}}</ref>
Writing for ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', Dennis Harvey said "''Necessities'' knows just how to eke maximum poignancy from its events without seeming to manipulate for tearjerking effect."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2008/film/awards/the-necessities-of-life-1200507494/ |title=Review: 'The Necessities of Life' |last=Harvey |first=Dennis |date=26 August 2008 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> Dan Kois, writing for ''[[The Washington Post]]'', called the film "thoughtful and, especially at its end, quite touching," but found it unoriginal and blandly directed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/17/AR2010061702113.html |title=Movie review: In 'The Necessities of Life,' an Inuit tale goes south |last=Kois |first=Dan |date=18 June 2010 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> In ''[[The Chicago Reader]]'', Cliff Doerksen said parts of the film appear to be no better than a [[TV movie]], "but the acting is understated and strong."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/the-necessities-of-life/Film?oid=984512 |title=The Necessities of Life |last=Doerksen |first=Cliff |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[The Chicago Reader]]|date=4 February 2010 }}</ref>
===Accolades=== Canada submitted the film for consideration for the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]], one of the rare Canadian selections to feature a substantial amount of Inuktitut, following ''[[Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/canada-oscars-pick-1.3775950 |title=Xavier Dolan's It's Only the End of the World to be Canada's Oscar foreign-language film submission |last=Wong |first=Jessica |date=23 September 2016 |accessdate=3 January 2017 |work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> In January 2009, Academy members shortlisted the film among nine for the [[81st Academy Awards]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/cinema/227312/en-bref-ce-qu-il-faut-pour-vivre-preselectionne-aux-oscars |title=En bref - Ce qu'il faut pour vivre, présélectionné aux Oscars |date=14 January 2009 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[Le Devoir]]}}</ref> but it was not nominated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/the-necessities-of-life-leads-genie-nominations-1.788105 |title=The Necessities of Life leads Genie nominations |date=10 February 2009 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> It received the most nominations at the [[29th Genie Awards]], with eight.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/genie-award-voters-anoint-the-necessities/article20444424/ |title=Genie Award voters anoint The Necessities |last=Dixon |first=Guy |date=11 February 2009 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]]}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |- ! scope="col"| Award ! scope="col"|Date of ceremony ! scope="col"| Category ! scope="col"| Recipient(s) ! scope="col"| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |- !scope="row" rowspan=8| [[Genie Awards]] | rowspan="8" | [[29th Genie Awards|4 April 2009]] | [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Motion Picture|Best Motion Picture]] | [[Bernadette Payeur]] and [[René Chénier]] | {{nom}} | rowspan="8" | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://voir.ca/manon-dumais/2009/04/03/genie-2009-ca-interesse-t-i-quelquun/ |title=Génie 2009 : Ça Intéresse-T-I Quelqu'un ? |last=Dumais |first=Manon |date=3 April 2009 |accessdate=17 April 2017 |work=[[Voir]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/passchendaele-necessities-of-life-dominate-genie-awards-1.778921 |title=Passchendaele, Necessities of Life dominate Genie Awards |date=4 April 2009 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> |- | [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Director|Best Direction]] | [[Benoît Pilon]] | {{won}} |- | [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Screenplay|Best Original Screenplay]] | [[Bernard Émond]] | {{won}} |- | [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] | [[Natar Ungalaaq]] | {{won}} |- | [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]] | [[Éveline Gélinas]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]] | [[Robert Marcel Lepage]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]] | [[Richard Comeau]] | {{won}} |- | [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]] | [[Francesca Chamberland]] | {{nom}} |- !scope="row" rowspan=5| [[Prix Iris|Jutra Awards]] | rowspan="5" | [[11th Jutra Awards|29 March 2009]] | [[Prix Iris for Best Film|Best Film]] | Bernadette Payeur and René Chénier | {{won}} | rowspan="5" | <ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/cinema-quebecois/plus-de-nouvelles/201207/17/01-4551640-benoit-pilon-la-belle-lancee.php |title=Benoît Pilon: la belle lancée |last=Lussier |first=Marc-André |date=28 March 2009 |accessdate=17 April 2017 |work=[[La Presse (Canadian newspaper)|La Presse]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/ce-qu-il-faut-pour-vivre-wins-big-at-jutra-awards-1.384282 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231170548/http://www.ctvnews.ca/ce-qu-il-faut-pour-vivre-wins-big-at-jutra-awards-1.384282 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 31, 2016 |title='Ce qu'il faut pour vivre' wins big at Jutra awards |last=The Canadian Press |author-link=The Canadian Press |date=30 March 2009 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[CTV News]]}}</ref> |- | [[Prix Iris for Best Director|Best Direction]] | Benoît Pilon | {{nom}} |- | [[Prix Iris for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]] | Bernard Émond | {{won}} |- | [[Prix Iris for Best Actor|Best Actor]] | Natar Ungalaaq | {{won}} |- | [[Prix Iris for Best Music|Best Music]] | Robert Marcel Lepage | {{nom}} |- !scope="row" rowspan=3| [[Montreal World Film Festival]] | rowspan="3" | 2008 | Special Grand Prize of the Jury | rowspan="5" | Benoît Pilon | {{won}} | rowspan="3" | <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ffm-montreal.org/en/awards/9-awards-of-the-montreal-world-film-festival-2008.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150306055906/http://www.ffm-montreal.org/en/awards/9-awards-of-the-montreal-world-film-festival-2008.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=March 6, 2015 |title=Awards Of The Montreal World Film Festival - 2008 |accessdate=31 December 2016 |work=[[Montreal World Film Festival]]}}</ref> |- | Most Popular Film of the Festival | {{won}} |- | Most Popular Canadian Feature Film | {{won}} |- ! scope="row"| [[Toronto Film Critics Association]] | rowspan="1" | [[Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2009|16 December 2009]] | [[Rogers Best Canadian Film Award|Best Canadian Film]] | {{draw|Runner-up}} | rowspan="1" | <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://torontofilmcritics.com/past-award-winners/ |title=Past Award Winners |accessdate=16 April 2017 |work=[[Toronto Film Critics Association]]|date=29 May 2014 }}</ref> |- !scope="row" rowspan=2| [[Vancouver Film Critics Circle]] | rowspan="2" | [[Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards 2008|13 January 2009]] | [[Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Canadian Film|Best Canadian Film]] | {{nom}} | rowspan="1" | <ref>{{Cite news|title=Critics Circle gives Egoyan director nod |date=6 January 2009 |newspaper=[[Times Colonist]]}}</ref> |- | [[Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in a Canadian Film|Best Actor in a Canadian Film]] | Natar Ungalaaq | {{won}} | rowspan="1" | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.straight.com/article-193855/milk-and-quebec-films-lead-vancouver-film-critics-circle-awards |title=Milk and Quebec films lead Vancouver Film Critics Circle awards |last=Takeuchi |first=Craig |date=12 January 2009 |accessdate=16 April 2017 |work=[[The Georgia Straight]]}}</ref> |}
== See also == *[[Aboriginal peoples in Northern Canada]] * [[List of submissions to the 81st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film]] * [[List of Canadian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb title|1280501|The Necessities of Life}}
{{Prix Iris for Best Film}} {{FFM Best Canadian Film}} {{Canadian submission for Academy Awards}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Necessities Of Life}} [[Category:2008 films]] [[Category:Canadian drama films]] [[Category:Films set in Quebec City]] [[Category:Films set in the Northwest Territories]] [[Category:Films shot in Nunavut]] [[Category:Films shot in Quebec]] [[Category:2008 French-language films]] [[Category:Inuktitut-language films]] [[Category:Films directed by Benoît Pilon]] [[Category:Films about Inuit in Canada]] [[Category:Films about tuberculosis]] [[Category:Best Film Prix Iris winners]] [[Category:2008 Canadian films]] [[Category:Films scored by Robert Marcel Lepage]] [[Category:French-language Canadian films]]