The Savage Innocents

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On top of the world...

...nearer to the North Pole

than to any civilised area...

...there live numbers of

a singular race of nomads.

They are so proud...

...that they call

themselves simply...

...the Men.

We, in turn, call them Eskimos...

...meaning 'eaters of raw flesh'.

In the age of the atom bomb...

...they still hunt

with bow and arrow.

They share whatever they own.

They are so crude...

...they don't know how to lie.

In this region of eternal ice...

...it is not yet

decided whether man or bear...

...is crown of creation.

But, as plentiful

as are the bear...

...so the women are scarce.

This man, Inuk...

...does not have

a woman of his own.

For a long time he has

known the importance...

...of having a wife

to give orders to.

One who would sew his garments...

...make his mittens,

mend his boots...

...and laugh with him...

...which means the same

as making love.

An important factor

when a third of the year...

...is night.

Anarvik, Lulik.

Inuk...

...the sound of your voice is good.

It is the end of last winter...

...and you are still in bed.

The winter seems short for us.

How was it for you?

No woman to laugh with.

Too bad.

There is hot tea.

Have some and talk.

Gossip!

When are you going to make

up your mind to take a wife?

Anarvik, this man has come to ask...

...about the daughters...

...of your brother.

We have expected them for two years.

They will come.

Maybe.

Maybe.

By now others may

have taken his daughters.

Inuk, you're leaving us?

Why don't you cheer him up?

Make yourself beautiful.

So little stay after a long journey?

The dogs are hungry.

It is necessary to go hunting.

Alone?

Maybe.

You may laugh with

my wife for a while.

You have permission.

A little change does her good.

Makes her eyes shine.

You are a great friend, Anarvik.

But Anarvik...

...this man is tired

of asking for favours.

He wishes to laugh...

...with a woman of his own.

Till then, Anarvik...

...he prefers to go hunting.

You are rude and ungrateful.

No rude, proud.

Rude, ungrateful...

...to refuse a

man's offer is insulting.

Anarvik...

...it was not meant

to insult a friend.

Anarvik.

Inuk.

Inuk.

Quiet.

Inuk.

Quiet.

A man has something to say to you.

One thing at a time.

Here, give someone a hand.

Anarvik...

...I thank you for permission

to laugh with your wife.

This man was rude and ungrateful.

It is forgotten, so is the bump.

If you wish to bump me...

...you may.

And lose a seal?

It is better to tell

you we have visitors.

Who?

My brother is dead...

...but his widow, Powtee,

and his two daughters...

...have arrived.

So?

What are they like?

- Women.

When a seal is captured...

...there are certain

rituals and practical things...

...to be taken care of.

The first is this:

...since seals live

in salt water...

...they are always thirsty...

...and the hunter must

do as these hunters are doing.

The soul of this animal will tell...

...the souls of the other seals...

...that it has received

a drink of sweet water.

Then they, too, will come

up and try to get caught...

...in the hope of getting a drink.

Are you satisfied?

What are their names?

Imina, Asiak...

...and their mother.

Inuk.

Imina.

- Asiak.

The distance was

great for three women...

...to travel alone.

Kidok travelled with us.

Kidok is here?

He thought three women

could not protect themselves.

The seal is not small.

Nobody wanted to kill it.

It insisted upon being caught.

Where is Kidok?

Kidok happened to

hear the sound of a walrus.

He went to hunt.

It's a good hide.

It is only...

...a baby seal.

They are careful

not to touch any meat...

...when they eat

fish or, if they do...

...they will arouse the

anger of the protective spirits.

The girls are not too young

to accept the heart of a man...

...but the heart of a seal is taboo.

Asiak's mother has worn her teeth

to their gums softening hides...

...so her daughters do

for her as she did for them...

...when they were babies.

Come on, eat.

Welcome, Kidok.

Kidok.

It has been more than a season.

Come.

The walrus disappeared,

but I came across a small bear.

Killing it could not be avoided.

It is so small a

single girl could eat it.

Kidok.

Inuk.

For someone who is so impatient...

...the man seems

very slow in waking up.

This hunter will leave now...

...and come back with the...

...biggest seal...

...two stupid girls have ever seen.

Another hunter has already gone...

...after such a seal.

Kidok?

This hunter will

come back with a walrus.

You would do better

to stay with the girls.

The sled is now ready.

Inuk, who do you like better?

Imina or Asiak?

The decision is difficult.

This man likes both women.

Why choose?

You must make up your mind...

...or you'll never get a wife.

Inuk, listen to me.

Everyone knows one

woman is as good as another.

But a woman is not a

seal, or even a walrus.

A woman is a...

Then take Asiak.

But someone likes Imina.

More important than a woman...

...is a man makes up his mind.

Anarvik.

What?

Look.

I'll show Kidok.

Somebody wants to show Imina...

...this baby walrus.

Kidok has left taking with him...

...my other daughter.

You see.

It happens...

...somebody wanted Imina.

Kidok has given me a

bowl and a new lamp...

...so the marriage is made.

So...

...here is...

...a baby walrus.

Here is...

Here is bearskin...

...here is snow knife.

Now Imina is married to me.

Why don't you take little Asiak?

This man has made decision.

She is just as worthless.

But there is nothing Imina can do...

...that Asiak cannot.

But someone wants Imina and not Asiak.

Imina was yours for the asking.

It will be easy to catch Kidok.

But your dogs are tired.

They are still much faster than his.

When he is caught...

...someone will shove

a knife in his throat...

...cut out his tongue and

put it on top of his head.

Cut off his ears and

stuff them in his mouth.

Then someone will open his chest...

...and fill it with ice.

If you kill him...

...no one will ever

admit you in his igloo again.

Not even you?

- No.

Even a seal would do

the same to another seal...

...if he took his woman.

A seal could kill...

...and still have the

company of other seals.

But a few things make a

man different from a seal.

Somebody will give him...

...a good clubbing.

Good.

But if he puts up

resistance in the least way...

...he shall be killed.

If you cannot help killing

him, eat a bit of his liver...

...to conciliate his ghost.

An angry ghost is very dangerous.

Why don't you take Asiak along?

Then it will be easy to

make an agreement with Kidok.

He has paid for Imina...

...and we cannot let

him go empty-handed.

This old and useless

woman will live with...

...whichever husband takes Asiak.

Maybe you are not so stupid.

Kidok!

Kidok!

Asiak, come. We have caught Kidok.

Kidok, I catch you.

Why are you chasing Kidok?

To catch Imina.

You must be stupid.

Asiak.

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