First, we invite you to read Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq (& Other Stories, 2023).
Published by groundbreaking local publishers & Other Stories, Split Tooth is an extraordinary exploration of life in a small Arctic town, the place that myth and folklore occupy in life and the proximity of the otherworldly in the everyday. This book encompasses poetry, prose and illustration to examine the beauty and violence of life for a young girl in the 70s in Nunavut, Canada.
Then, watch TAKKUUK, meaning 'look closely' in Inuktitut, which was co-created with seven Indigenous collaborators across Greenland and Sápmi as part of the EarthSonic initiative. Specially built infrared cameras transform familiar Arctic landscapes into something strange and otherworldly, while the featured artists open up about what it means to hold onto language, land and identity when so much conspires against continuity. Through sound, storytelling and performance, they show how culture endures under external pressure, including accelerating climate change. The result is a genuinely collaborative work that sits somewhere between documentary realism and artistic abstraction, giving Indigenous voices and knowledge systems the space to speak on their own terms. Immersive, striking, and unlike anything else in the programme.
Come along on Monday, 15th June to discuss Split Tooth with Rosie and Sarah from Juno Books in a friendly and informal group with fellow biblio-cinephiles at the Showroom Cinema Cafe, delving into the book and discussing how it sits alongside TAKKUUK.
Once you have booked your ticket, please collect your copy of Split Tooth (included in the ticket price) from Juno Books, 24 Chapel Walk, S1 2PD (open Tuesdays to Fridays 9:30 to 4pm, Saturdays 10 to 5pm and Sundays 12pm to 4pm).
To watch the film TAKKUUK, please follow the link found here: https://www.sheffdocfest.com/film/takkuuk.
