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The moon is still held to influence the earth and the souls of the dead are thought to help catch white whales. On I’lle-aux-Coudres, a small island in the St. Lawrence, the inhabitants (for centuries) trapped white beluga whales by sinking a corral of 3,990 saplings into offshore mud at low tide. After 1920, the practice was abandoned. This is the unrehearsed story of what happened when old-timers of the island were persuaded to revive the practice. Cinematography, Michel Brault, Bernard Gosselin. Narration, Stanley Jackson. Editing, Werner Nold. Sound, Marcel Carriere, Pierre Lemelin. Music, Jean Cousineau, Jean Meunier. (Eight Awards, including Canadian Film Awards; Melbourne; Toronto.)
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How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
007241
Language
English
Subject categories
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Film festivals - Australia - Melbourne - Awards
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Film festivals - Canada - Toronto - Awards
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Motion pictures - Awards
Animals & Wildlife → White whale
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Canada - Social life and customs
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Rites and ceremonies
Climate, Environment, Natural Resources & Disasters → Natural history
Documentary → Documentary films - Canada
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Black and White
Holdings
16mm film; Access Print (Section 1)
16mm film; Limited Access Print (Section 2)