In the remote Innu community in northern Quebec, Mikuan and Shaniss, two young women from the same village, experience the complexities of growing up in a world characterized by traditional values and the drive for personal freedom. While Mikuan grows up in a loving family that supports her writing ambitions, Shaniss faces a more difficult reality: she is a young mother in an abusive relationship, without the support of a stable family. The film KUESSIPAN, which means "your turn" in the Innu language, poignantly shows how the two friends take different paths at a critical point in their lives. Mikuan falls in love with Francis, a white boy from her writing workshop, and plans to leave the reservation to study in Quebec City. This decision is met with incomprehension and resistance from Shaniss, who sees Mikuan's desire to leave the community as a betrayal of their common roots. Tensions between the friends intensify as Mikuan questions her cultural ties and the importance of her community while trying to pursue her own dreams. The film navigates the emotional landscapes of loss, identity and belonging, illuminating the deep bonds and often painful rifts that occur when life paths diverge. KUESSIPAN is more than a simple coming-of-age story; it is a sensitive portrait of an often overlooked community that invites viewers to experience the beauty and complexity of Innu culture through the eyes of two young women who must find their own way between tradition and personal freedom.
Drama, Independent
1h 57min
16
FR
EN
IT
ES
DE
FR
PT
Two childhood friends from the same Innu community in Quebec begin to realize that they face very different futures.
In the remote Innu community in northern Quebec, Mikuan and Shaniss, two young women from the same village, experience the complexities of growing up in a world characterized by traditional values and the drive for personal freedom. While Mikuan grows up in a loving family that supports her writing ambitions, Shaniss faces a more difficult reality: she is a young mother in an abusive relationship, without the support of a stable family.
The film KUESSIPAN, which means "your turn" in the Innu language, poignantly shows how the two friends take different paths at a critical point in their lives. Mikuan falls in love with Francis, a white boy from her writing workshop, and plans to leave the reservation to study in Quebec City. This decision is met with incomprehension and resistance from Shaniss, who sees Mikuan's desire to leave the community as a betrayal of their common roots.
Tensions between the friends intensify as Mikuan questions her cultural ties and the importance of her community while trying to pursue her own dreams. The film navigates the emotional landscapes of loss, identity and belonging, illuminating the deep bonds and often painful rifts that occur when life paths diverge.
KUESSIPAN is more than a simple coming-of-age story; it is a sensitive portrait of an often overlooked community that invites viewers to experience the beauty and complexity of Innu culture through the eyes of two young women who must find their own way between tradition and personal freedom.