Toronto (Sep 25/06) - With every step, it's clear that Isuma is no talking dog.

That's the metaphor Igloolik Isuma co-founder Norman Cohn uses when discussing the critical response to his company's second feature film, The Journals of Knud Rasmussen.

Isuma co-founders Norman Cohn and Zacharias Kunuk attend a press conference at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month. Isuma's second feature film, The Journals of Knud Rasmussen, opened the festival this year. - photo courtesy of W. Andrew Powell

"The last film had a kind of universal but superficial response," he said. "It was flattering in a sense like, 'isn't it amazing that a talking dog can make a film.'"

"It's complimentary, but still kind of insulting."

"This time, the reviews are much more complex. No one is reviewing the talking dog. It's all about the movie."

Following its run as the premiere film at this year's Toronto International Film Festival, the film will also open the Atlantic Film Festival, the Calgary International Film Festival, the Edmonton International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival.

He said the response so far has been strong, but also varied. And that's a good thing.

"Two-thirds of every audience really loves our film. One in six seems to hate the film. And we think that's great, because our films challenge the way people see things."

The second feature-length release from director Zacharias Kunuk is set in Iglulik in 1922, and follows one of the last great Inuit shamans, Awa, and his daughter, Apak, as they try to strike a balance with encroaching Western values.

In an earlier interview, Kunuk said the film ends with a "shocking truth," about this balance, but wouldn't go into detail.

"I was shocked when I watched it," he emphasized.

"All I can say is Inuit life of the 1920s is in the minds of a lot of people right now and its going to be in the minds of a lot more," Cohn said.

Cambridge Bay throat singer Tanya Tagaq Gillis appears throughout the film's soundtrack, and performed live at the film's opening.

"It was really, really exciting. I didn't realize it was that much of a big deal," she said of the red carpet atmosphere at the event.

"I just pretended I was at home," she said of her uncharacteristic nerves at the event.

"It's a different thing, I felt like I was representing someone else's work, representing the film."

For the future, Cohn said Isuma is focusing on its next picture, "Before Tomorrow," which is set for release in 2007, as well as restarting its aborted attempt to tour Journals to Northern communities. The venture was cancelled due to funding shortfalls from the Nunavut government earlier this year.

"This is a participatory venture," Cohn said. "If the Nunavut government and the Nunavut Film Commission don't see the value, then we may bring the film to other native communities first."