One of the best sports movies I've seen in years. Never thought I could be so invested in a film about lacrosse, but then The Grizzlies is a rare film with a big heart.
It felt both tragic and heartwarming. I was completely transported into that little part of Canada and Inuit culture. The characters felt authentic and the scenery hard to look away from.
I thought it did a great job of acknowledging challenges facing Inuit and First Nations people both past and present. It was as much a cultural lesson for me as it was heartwarming film based on true events.
I felt invested in the plight of each character and felt quite connected to each of them by the end of the film. It was this connection that caused me to be pretty damn emotional at times!
Highly recommend.
The Grizzlies
2018
Action / Biography / Drama / Sport
The Grizzlies
2018
Action / Biography / Drama / Sport
Plot summary
THE GRIZZLIES is an inspiring true story based on a group of Inuit students in the small Arctic town of Kugluktuk. Suffering from widespread drug use, alcohol abuse, domestic violence and one of the highest teen suicide rates in the world, this northern community is periled by the legacy of colonialism. The students are naturally skeptical when Russ Sheppard, yet another ignorant and unprepared white rookie teacher, arrives from the South on a one-year teaching contract. With much to learn, but deeply shaken by the death of one of his students, Russ introduces his class to the sport of lacrosse in an effort to help lift the dangerous fog of trauma existing in his students. While initially resistant, the students gradually come together to embrace the sport, form Team Grizzlies, and find inspiration to make shifts in their own lives. Together with Russ, the team gains the support of a deeply divided town and eventually negotiates its way to the National Lacrosse Championships in Toronto. Despite their ultimate defeat, The Grizzlies discover that success doesn't lie in the outcome of a lacrosse game; but instead, in the spirit of community.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
An absolute gem
teacher in the far north meets the inuit
In a cold, frozen land where boredom and alcoholism loom, a group of inuit students learn how to play lacrosse. The new teacher russ doesn't know any of the customs, isn't sure how to meet the locals on their terms, but he is determined to try. And one thing he's knows is lacrosse. So many obstacles. Can he get the town to pull together? Directed by miranda de pencier. This won a bunch of film fest awards. Good stuff. What you see is what you get. Educational in many ways.
Alcohol & Isolation
DVD lacked subtitles for the elderly, disabled, hearing impaired, and ESL viewers. Disrespectful & cheap on the part of the producers especially when audio & enunciation is poor. Also no menu of special features (source of additional info) & chapter headings. Given the large number of production/filming crew they could afford it.
Nunavut (a territory in NE Canada governed by the Inuit) in 2004. Highest suicide rate in North America (although with a total population of 40,000 the small numbers can easily skew that rate). Based on a true story. No highway so access is by boat, plane. Alcohol sales is mostly non-existent, but still obtainable with bootlegging as the prevalent source. Hockey, despite our film's focus on Lacrosse (an indigenous roots sport),is the main sport.
Good acting, good authenticity on student - new teacher interactions.