ENGL 0601: The Snow Walker Film Analysis Assignment - Module 5

This assignment analyzes the film 'The Snow Walker,' focusing on the performance of Annabella Piugattuk, the climax of the book 'Walk Well, My Brother,' and differences between the screenplay and the film adaptation. The student provides their evaluation of Piugattuk's performance as Kanaalaq, highlighting her authenticity and the casting director's discovery. The analysis confirms that the bear episode serves as the climax of the book. The assignment examines changes made in the film from the screenplay, such as the scene where Lavery tucks money into a woman's blouse, and whether the film's alterations improve the narrative. The student also discusses the change in how Kanaalaq catches a goose and the implications of this change on women empowerment. Furthermore, the assignment explores a hypothetical scenario regarding the meeting of Charlie and Kanaalaq in the 1950s and the transformation of Charlie's character, along with a comparison of Kanaalaq and Louise, the female character from Thomas King’s novel, 'Medicine River'. The student uses references to support their analysis and arguments.

Running head: SNOW WALKER
SNOW WALKER
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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ASSIGNMENT PART 5.1
Answer: In the following film, “The Snow Walker” Annabella Piugattuk who is a Canadian
Inuit actress who played the role of Kanaalaq. In the movie, the “The Snow Walker”, her
character helped the young Canadian bush pilot name Charlie Halliday played by Barry
Pepper in order to survive the difficult conditions of the various Northwest Territories after
an plane crash. Anabellea Piugattuk just like his character in the movie “The Snow Walker”
was an excellent Inuit throat singer and was able to hunt and fish seals and walrus. In
addition, Annabella Piugattuk was also able to make clothes out of hides of caribou. In
addition, Annabella Piugattuk first language was Inuktitut.
As per my opinion, Anabellea Piugattak was absolutely perfect for the role of the Kanaalaq in
the movie “The Snow Walker”. Since both her off screen and on screen character from the
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada, she seems absolutely genuine and perfect for the role. The casting
director Jared Valentine in the small town of Igloolik discovered Annnabella Piugattuk. As
per one of the producers of the movie, "Annabella Piugattuk is considered as un-Hollywood
as an actress could be, and Hollywood is going to love her”.
Annabella Piugattuk was brilliant in imbibing the role of Kanaalaq. Due to her exceptional
portrayal of the role of Kannalaq, she was nominated at the Genie awards as the best
supporting actress in the year 2004.
Answer: The climax of the following book “Walk well my brother” by Farley Mowat based on
which the movie “The Snow Walker” was adapted does happened on the bear episode. In the bear
Episode, which acts as climax for the book the main characters of the book, Charlie Lavery and
Konala were shown to be attacked by a big brown bear. When Lavery saw Konala running down
towards a small valley, he ran up the hills slopes with his spear. It was then, when Lavery realized that
konala was actually trying to distract the big brown bear. In an attempt to save her, Lavery threw the

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spear toward the bear and began shouting at top of his voice. When Lavery was, only few yards away
from the bear, he tripped, fell and down among the rocks and faced the huge brown bear. “The bear
looked back impassively and then snorted, dropped on all fours and shambled off”. The following
bear incident had an huge impact on the life of Lavery. Dressed in a caribou-skin cloth with a dark
color breads ringing down his cheeks and long hair hanging down till his shoulders, Lavery had now
acquire the characteristics of vigour and watchfulness. He was no longer a stranger in the alien land.
He had now become a strong man of his own who was able to make his own decision and fight for his
own rights in the elder world. In the company of Konala, Lavery understood the importance of unity
and brother hood, to which he was unaware off when he did felony with his own members of the
bombing crew (Mowat).
ASSIGNMENT PART 5.3
Answer: In the following book “Walk well my brother” by Farley Mowat based on which the
movie “The Snow Walker” was made, there was an incident where “Lavery tucks a wad of
bills into Estelle’s blouse.” in scene 4 of the book. That does not happen in the movie. This is
for betterment in the overall movie, as this might have sparked various controversies of
improper behavior and disrespect towards women community. In the 20th century where all
the women are considered equals who are capable of doing anything she wishes for, this
following scene would spark controversies about the age-old toxic patriarchy that are
prevalent in the society. Lavery is shown as a character who is angry resentful, self absorbed
who always thinks about himself. In addition, he is also prejudiced (Americans)
Answer: According to the screenplay of the “The Snow Walker”, it was the character of
Charlie who had helped Kanaalaq in order to catch the goose. In the actual movie, Kanaalaq
had caught the goose on its own. This helps in showing a stronger women character in the
overall movie. In the 20th century, women are no longer weak. They are capable of doing
various things in this mass dominated world without the help of the man. She is well capable

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and well sufficient to work that only men were supposed to be doing. This helps in
supporting the concept and idea of women empowerment (Americans).
Answer: Another Hypothetical question that arises can be as follows:
“What if the sick young Inuit woman name Kanaalaq finds Charlie on the
ridge in the year 1950s?”
Answer: By the end of the movie, “The Snow Walker”, there was a major change in
the characteristics and attitude of Charlie Larvery. He became more empowered. The bear
incident had an huge impact on the life of Lavery. Dressed in a caribou-skin cloth with a dark
color breads ringing down his cheeks and long hair hanging down till his shoulders, Lavery
had now acquire the characteristics of vigor and watchfulness. He was no longer a stranger in
the alien land. He had now become a strong man of his own who was able to make his own
decision and fight for his own rights in the elder world. In the company of Kanaalaq, Charlie
Lavery understood the importance of unity and brother hood, which he was unaware off
when he did felony with his own members of the bombing crew. He began understand the
local language there and hence reduce the barrier to language.
ASSIGNMENT PART 5.3
Kanaalaq lives in the traditional Inuit way. She relies on the cycle of seasons
to
bring animals for food and clothing , she makes her own tools , she knows
and respects the land. Louise, an important character in Thomas King’s
Medicine River is Native, but lives in a more European way. She does not live
on a reserve, but she appreciates her ancestry. Louise cares deeply for Will,
who is the narrator of the novel. But she does not want to be married to him.

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She believes that “marriage is always more of a burden on women than on
men and that life is already complicated enough”.

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REFERENCES
Mowat, Farley. 2019, https://eipactivities.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/eip-book-club-
fall2017.pdf. Accessed 6 Sept 2019.
Americans, Native. "Reel Indigenous Women’s Lives: Female Protagonists in Films by
Indigenous Women."
Pykett, Lynn. Nineteenth Century Sensation Novel. Oxford University Press, 2018.