Taglines: What lies behind us is tiny compared to what lies within us.
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.
The Grizzlies is a 2018 Canadian sports drama film, directed by Miranda de Pencier. Based on a true story, the film depicts a youth lacrosse team that was set up to help combat an onslaught of youth suicide in the community of Kugluktuk, Nunavut. The film’s cast includes Will Sasso, Ben Schnetzer, Tantoo Cardinal, Eric Schweig, Emerald MacDonald, Natar Ungalaaq, Anna Lambe, Paul Nutarariaq, Booboo Stewart and Madeline Ivalu.
The film premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. In October, de Pencier won the Directors Guild of Canada award for Best Direction in a Feature Film. The film was theatrically released in Canada on April 19, 2019 by Mongrel Media.
At the 7th Canadian Screen Awards, Dan General, Thomas Lambe and Adam Tanuyak won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Original Song for “Trials”. Nutarariaq was nominated for Best Actor, and Anna Lambe was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.
The Grizzlies (2020)
Directed by: Miranda de Pencier
Starring: Will Sasso, Ben Schnetzer, Tantoo Cardinal, Eric Schweig, Natar Ungalaaq, Booboo Stewart, Sheila Pokiak, Anna Lambe, Ricky Marty-Pahtaykan, Simon Nattaq, Sarah Laakkuluk
Screenplay by: Moira Walley-Beckett, Graham Yost
Production Design by: Zazu Myers
Cinematography by: Jim Denault
Film Editing by: Michele Conroy, Ronald Sanders, James Vandewater
Costume Design by: Lea Carlson
Set Decoration by: Mary Kirkland
Makeup Department: Anita Guastella
Music by: Garth Stevenson
MPAA Rating: R for language, and some drug/alcohol use involving teens.
Distributed by: Hammond Entertainment
Release Date: July 31, 2020
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