Grand Rapids Gregory Zbitnew ; Winnipeg Film Group

Format:

Video

Language:

Cree

English

French

Subjects (All):

Canada.

Local Subjects:

Canada.

Genre:

Documentary films

Nonfiction films

Physical Description:

1 online resource (1 video file) sound, color

Place of Publication:

2010

Language Note:

English, Cree

System Details:

video file

Biography/History:

Film director, editor and animator Gregory Zbitnew is known for “Grand Rapids” (2010), “Muskeg Special” (2007), “The Lost Movie” (1982) and as co-director for the animated film“Five Cents a Copy” (1980). During 1975 -1978, Gregory studied television and film production at, and graduated from, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. There he produced his first films, including the 16mm short “A Monster is Loose in the City”, a photomontage animation that is, today, distributed by Winnipeg Film Group. In 1978, Gregory became a member of the Winnipeg Film Group (Co-op), and has worked on many film production there ever since. He was a technical consultant for the John Kay film “Vegetarian Culture”, and a production manager for “You Laugh Like A Duck”. He is also the author of a (so far) four-volume series of novels, series title “generator”

Summary:

Grand Rapids, Manitoba, is situated where the Saskatchewan River flows into Lake Winnipeg. For thousands of years, indigenous people fished for sturgeon along the shoreline of the rapids. “Misapawistik” was the Cree name for the rapids. The energy of the swiftly moving water provided spiritual power, as well as endurance and increased bodily strength. This documentary is about memories of people who lived in Grand Rapids when the mighty river flowed. The story is a record of perceptions about how construction of the dam has altered every aspect of the resident’s lives. The intrusion of a “foreign culture” (modern world) was suddenly imposed upon an isolated, Cree-speaking community, replacing their traditional way of life.

Notes:

Vendor supplied data