Nanaimo International Film Screening Society Film Series Screenings

1) The Wrong Husband (Uiksaringitara) will be shown at 1:00 and 7:00, Sunday April 12th at the Shaw Auditorium in downtown Nanaimo.

Tickets are $15 or $10 for under 25 yrs. and can be purchased online or at the door. 

Nanaimo International Film Screening Society closes its 25/26 season with the selection of the 2025 Best Canadian Feature at tiff The Wrong Husband (Uiksaringitara).
Filmed in and around the northern village of Igloolik, Nunavut, this film, shows us a world that is nothing like our own.
The harsh weather conditions, stunning geographic emptiness of a lifetime many years ago, make for a landscape that mystifies reason and easily leads to superstition and supernatural intervention.
In this fascinating story, award winning director Zacharias Kunuk tells of a woman and man betrothed since childhood. With the death of their tribe elder, the marriage is suddenly jeopardized when the husband-to-be is challenged by the new elder’s son.
Remaining truthful to historical accuracy and strict traditional norms, the director creates a world where magic and mysticism with the help of spirit guides and characters created from superstition are required to bring harmony back.
Actors give solid performances, there’s lots of humour, and an excellent musical score. Perhaps the slow pace of the movie showcases how the people must live in a climate so harsh.
This might be Kunuk’s most mesmerizing movie to date!

2) Youngblood screens at 4:00, April 12th at the Shaw Auditorium, 80 Commercial Street, Nanaimo.
Tickets are $15 or $10 for under 25yrs. and can be purchased online or at the door.

The matinée feature is a Canadian film dealing with Canada’s most popular sport. Hockey fans and relatives will not want to miss the story of Youngblood, directed by Don Davies who highlights the conflicts of racism and black resilience in the world of hockey.
17 year old Dean Youngblood from Detroit, is raised by his black father with the attitude that he needs to be more than tough if he wants to make it in his favourite sport. His dad, played by Blair Underwood, says,” Hockey will teach you what you need to know about life.”
Showing promise as a hockey player, Youngblood travels to Canada to join the Hamilton Mustangs. His skills gain respect, but his frustration quickly leads him to trouble. His Coach benches him one game after another for his aggressive behaviour and Dean’s patience wears thin ending in a violent confrontation with a teammate. Fortunately the team captain takes Dean under his wing and that and a growing relationship with the coach’s daughter helps him mature as he realizes his father’s approach was not always the most effective.
The movie has lots of on ice footage as well as relationship building off ice. The real shots taken with the Mustangs and LA Kings are excellent. The politics of the sporting world are undeniably relevant.
One fan said, “I liked it. It had a redeeming message of family, racial struggles, and the pros & cons of sports.”
Following the film there will be an interview with lead actor Ashton James not to be missed.