Watch Qallunaat! Why White People are Funny

Qallunaat! Why White People are Funny is a unique and insightful documentary film released in 2007, which explores the Inuit perspective of Western culture and the white people. Directed by Mark Sandiford, this film features interviews, interactive sessions, and observational footage of Inuit communities living in the Arctic, giving audiences a glimpse of their lives and their cultural encounters with the white inhabitants.

The film's title, Qallunaat, is a name that the Inuit give to white people, which translates to “long eyebrows.” The name was coined because white people have a different facial structure than the Inuit, and their eyebrows appear to be long. This film delves deep into the Inuit culture, language, and traditions while using humor as a central theme to convey their experiences in dealing with white people.

The movie opens with an Inuit man named John Amagoalik introducing the narrative and sets the tone for the film. John Amagoalik was a key figure in the creation of Nunavut, Canada's newest territory, and provides insight into the history of colonization in the Arctic. Amagoalik and other Inuit figures featured in the film share their thoughts and experiences of interactions with white people, which provides informative and engaging storytelling.

The documentary presents several culturally significant moments throughout and portrays the Inuit lifestyle, such as hunting, fishing, and the use of the traditional Inuit language in everyday life. The film portrays the Inuit's amusement that the English language does not have the same breadth of vocabulary as the Inuit language, and the short, sharp and comedic exchanges between the Inuit participants reflect this.

The movie goes on to explore how Inuit traditions have changed since the arrival of the white people, resulting in the loss of much of their culture's values and morals. It outlines how the introduction of Christianity and non-Inuit education has changed Inuit culture's traditional ways of life. The Inuit participants of the documentary humorously discuss their amusement at the often-hilarious ways that white people react to extreme temperatures, as well as their lack of awareness around working with the environment regardless of its climate.

There are moments where the film moves away from the interview format into observational footage, where we see the daily life of a community in the Arctic. In one scene, we see Inuit children performing traditional dances in the snow, and elsewhere, we witness a seal hunter's life. This observational footage showcases the beauty and harshness of the environment in which the Inuit people live.

The documentary's central theme that white people are funny could have been problematic were it approached carelessly. However, the humorous tone is more about poking fun at some of the more awkward and curious interactions between the two cultures, rather than ridiculing them. The humor offers both cultures the opportunity to connect in ways that might have been difficult or awkward otherwise.

Overall, Qallunaat! Why White People are Funny offers a glimpse into the Inuit way of life and their encounters with white people. The movie offers a light-hearted but insightful look at Inuit culture, exploring their connection to the environment, their language and culture, and their encounter with whites from a critical, humorous, and thought-provoking perspective. Although humor is the driving force behind this film, it does not detract from the seriousness of the issues discussed that face the Inuit people of the Arctic.

In many ways, the documentary portrays human nature's ability to adapt to different environments and engage with different cultures. The film offers valuable insights into how different cultures live and interact while providing a respectful appraisal of Inuit culture, offering a rare and respectful perspective on their way of life. Overall, Qallunaat! Why White People are Funny is a unique and worthwhile watch for anyone interested in learning more about Inuit culture, its challenges, and its relationship with the wider world.

Qallunaat! Why White People are Funny is a 2007 documentary with a runtime of 52 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.