Itelmen Stories (2010)

Itelmen Stories (2010) poster

Itelmen Stories is a poignant tale of the social and personal significance of a language that is near the end of its existence as an orally transmitted means of communication. The film presents both the speaking of the Itelmen language, as it exists today and the meaning of using it in the past and the present. The action in the film revolves around an ancestrally used practice of hunting sable by net. Set in rural Kamchatka in the Russian Far East, where fewer than 20 speakers of Itelmen remain, the film goes beyond its original aim to recapture a language and a hunting practice that are remembered but no longer in use. Two hunters encounter the wild environs and villages of Kamchatka as a history laden homeland and memories, nostalgia, resignation and hope echo throughout the film.

Director: Liivo Niglas
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 68 min
Release Date:
Editing: Liivo Niglas, Marju Juhkum
Country: Estonia
Language: Eesti
Original Language: et
More Films by Director: Liivo Niglas
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Itelmen Stories about?
Itelmen Stories is a poignant tale of the social and personal significance of a language that is near the end of its existence as an orally transmitted means of communication. The film presents both the speaking of the Itelmen language, as it exists today and the meaning of using it in the past and the present. The action in the film revolves around an ancestrally used practice of hunting sable by net. Set in rural Kamchatka in the Russian Far East, where fewer than 20 speakers of Itelmen remain, the film goes beyond its original aim to recapture a language and a hunting practice that are remembered but no longer in use. Two hunters encounter the wild environs and villages of Kamchatka as a history laden homeland and memories, nostalgia, resignation and hope echo throughout the film.
Who directed Itelmen Stories?
Itelmen Stories was directed by Liivo Niglas.
How long is Itelmen Stories?
Itelmen Stories has a runtime of 1h 8m (68 minutes).
What genre is Itelmen Stories?
Itelmen Stories is a Documentary film.
Where was Itelmen Stories produced?
Itelmen Stories was produced in Estonia.