The Necessities of Life
Ce qu'il faut pour vivre
Synopsis
In 1952, an Inuit hunter named Tivii with tuberculosis leaves his northern home and family to go recuperate at a sanatorium in Quebec City. Uprooted, far from his loved ones, unable to speak French and faced with a completely alien world, he becomes despondent. When he refuses to eat and expresses a wish to die, his nurse, Carole, comes to the realization that Tivii's illness is not the most serious threat to his well-being. She arranges to have a young orphan, Kaki, transferred to the institution. The boy is also sick, but has experience with both worlds and speaks both languages. By sharing his culture with Kaki and opening it up to others, Tivii rediscovers his pride and energy. Ultimately he also rediscovers hope through a plan to adopt Kaki, bring him home and make him part of his family
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Ce qu'il faut pour vivre (The Necessities of Life) Trailer | MoMA Film
Type: Trailer • Published 2009-02-24
Top Cast
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Natar Ungalaaq
Tiivii
Éveline Gélinas
Carole
Paul-André Brasseur
Kaki
Louise Marleau
Soeur Luce
Guy Thauvette
Dr. Montpetit
Antoine Bertrand
Roger
Vincent-Guillaume Otis
Joseph
Denis Bernard
Père Millaire
Luc Proulx
L'horloger
Miali Buscemi
Qupanuaq
Ann-Sophie Archer
Infirmière de jour
Alexandre Thériault
Patient jaloux
Frédérick Bouffard
Patient agonisant
Caroline Tanguay
Infirmière de nuit
Jacques-Henri Gagnon
L'archevêque
Serge Bonin
L'aumônier
Guillaume Saladin
Interprète blanc
Pierre-Antoine Simard-Lafond
Aide-infirmier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Benoît Pilon
- Screenplay & Story
- Bernard Émond
- Original Score
- Robert Marcel Lepage
- Original Title
- Ce qu'il faut pour vivre
- Country of Origin
- Canada
- Spoken Languages
- French, Inuktitut
- Runtime
- 1h 42m
- Production Studios
- Téléfilm Canada, Astral Media, Société Radio-Canada, Super Écran, APTN, ACPAV, SODEC
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Benoît Pilon
Bernard Émond, Benoît Pilon
Robert Marcel Lepage
Richard Comeau
Bernadette Payeur, René Chénier
Department Leadership Roster
Benoît Pilon
Director
Richard Comeau
Editor
Bernadette Payeur
Producer
René Chénier
Producer
Bernard Émond
Screenplay
Robert Marcel Lepage
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance Suggested.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Necessities of Life.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Films du Québec
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Necessities of Life
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Necessities of Life about?
In 1952, an Inuit hunter named Tivii with tuberculosis leaves his northern home and family to go recuperate at a sanatorium in Quebec City. Uprooted, far from his loved ones, unable to speak French and faced with a completely alien world, he becomes despondent. When he refuses to eat and expresses a wish to die, his nurse, Carole, comes to the realization that Tivii's illness is not the most serious threat to his well-being. She arranges to have a young orphan, Kaki, transferred to the institution. The boy is also sick, but has experience with both worlds and speaks both languages. By sharing his culture with Kaki and opening it up to others, Tivii rediscovers his pride and energy. Ultimately he also rediscovers hope through a plan to adopt Kaki, bring him home and make him part of his family
Who directed The Necessities of Life?
The Necessities of Life was directed by Benoît Pilon.
Who stars in The Necessities of Life?
The principal cast of The Necessities of Life includes Natar Ungalaaq, Éveline Gélinas, Paul-André Brasseur, Louise Marleau, Guy Thauvette.
When was The Necessities of Life released and how long is it?
The Necessities of Life was released in 2008 with a total runtime of 1h 42m.
Who composed the musical score for The Necessities of Life?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Necessities of Life was composed by Robert Marcel Lepage.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Necessities of Life?
The Necessities of Life holds official age classifications: CA: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested.).