Céline Roustan
We’re all familiar with Santa’s naughty or nice lists, which determine if children will be getting presents this year. In France, we have Saint Nicholas, generous with the well behaved, and Père Fouettard, who gives coal to the naughty ones. For the Inuit communities in Labrador, January 6th is Nalujuk Night, where tradition dictates that with the arrival of the dark the inhabitants get ready for the visit of the Nalujuit! In immersive observational documentary Nalujuk Night, writer/director Jennie Williams invites us to join this celebration and take part in the festivities, but be warned! You should proceed carefully if you don’t think you’ve been nice this year!
One can reasonably assume that this tradition remains relatively unknown outside its community, providing Inuk filmmaker Jennie Williams an opportunity to introduce it to a broader audience through her film. As is often the case, it’s much better to see the events for ourselves rather than just hearing about them, making Williams’ choice of adopting an observational approach the perfect vehicle for discovery – beyond actually getting to experience it in person. Using minimal title cards in its opening Nalujuk Night employs subtitles to allow us its audience access to the basic facts, but most of the film relies on where the camera takes us, and the atmosphere it builds.
Run as fast as you can, the Nalujuit are here!
Given that this is a night time celebration, and also a traditional one, the black and white photography feels an appropriate choice to capture the nocturnal atmosphere, while also giving the film a mystical visual flair. Williams begins her short by introducing the enigmatic Nalujuit into her frame, before following them through the night as they interact with the community. The cinematography, the setting and the striking appearance of the Nalujiut combine to lend the film a truly beguiling quality.
As the Nalujuit arrive in the town, we instantly feel the anticipation of the families, the well-behaved kids experiencing pleasant interactions with their visitors. That mood quickly changes around the halfway mark, when these imposing guests start running into kids (teenagers) whom they believe were not so well behaved, and a hunt begins. From this point the film completely changes, the tone entering “midnight” territory as the editing and score picks up the pace to reinforce the tension and fear that this tradition brings.
The transportive quality of the film allows us the rare opportunity to be present at such a unique event and witness a community having fun with its cultural heritage. Yet Williams is also successful in effectively capturing just how enthralling the night is, to the point where we even feel the excitement of being chased by a Nalujuit and how that night brings everyone, of all generations, together.
Nalujuk Night had an impressive festival run with notable stops at Montreal’s FNC, SXSW and the Palm Springs ShortFest. It also won the 2022 Best Short Documentary Canadian Screen Award, ahead of its online premiere as a Vimeo Staff Pick.