| Katak: The Brave Beluga | |
|---|---|
| French | Katak, le brave béluga |
| Directed by | Christine Dallaire-Dupont Nicola Lemay |
| Written by | Andrée Lambert |
| Produced by | Nancy Florence Savard |
| Starring | Robert Naylor Alexandre Bacon |
| Edited by | René Caron |
| Music by | Uberko |
| Animation by | Yann Tremblay |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Attraction Distribution |
Release date |
|
Running time | 82 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Languages | English French |
Katak: The Brave Beluga (French: Katak, le brave béluga) is a Canadian animated film, directed by Christine Dallaire-Dupont and Nicola Lemay and released in 2023.[1] The film centres on Katak, a young beluga living in the Saguenay Fjord who has a reputation as a late bloomer as he is still grey and has not turned white like most belugas his age; eager to prove his maturity and courage, he embarks on a quest to find his grandfather in the northern sea.[2]
The film was released in both English and French versions, with Ginette Reno as the sole cast member who voiced the same character in both languages.[3]
The film's production was first announced in 2020, under the working title Beluga Blues.[4]
Cast
| Character | English voice | French voice |
|---|---|---|
| Katak | Robert Naylor | Alexandre Bacon |
| Lulu | Skyler Clark | Ludivine Reding |
| Sim | Eleanor Noble | Carolanne Foucher |
| Albi | Wyatt Bowen | Jérémie Desbiens |
| Paparazzi | Mark Camacho | Benoît Brière |
| Estelle | Angela Galuppo | Justine Major |
| Grandma | Ginette Reno | |
| Marina/Marine | Eleanor Noble | Guylaine Tremblay |
| Bosco | Richard M. Dumont | Jeff Boudreault |
| Naya | Ilana Zackon | Justine Major |
| Scoop | Wyatt Bowen | Martin Drainville |
| Old Katak | Richard M. Dumont | Maxime Le Flaguais |
| Old Nic | Terrence Scammell | Jacques Leblanc |
| Jack-Lyn | Angela Galuppo | Émilie Josset |
| Jack-Knife | Terrence Scammell | Mario Saint-Amand |
| Cyrano | Arthur Holden | Yves Jacques |
| Polestar | Jennifer Seguin | Carolanne Foucher |
| Northstar | Pauline Little | Carolanne Foucher |
Distribution
The film opened in theatres on February 24, 2023.[5] By the end of March, in its fifth week of release, it had grossed $1.5 million across Canada.[3]
It was subsequently released internationally, notably opening on over 300 screens in France in October.[6]
Critical response
Amélie Revert of Le Devoir rated the film four stars, praising its environmental message about the melting of Arctic ice.[2]
Cath Clarke of The Guardian rated the film three out of five, calling it "a fairly tepid and gentle-going adventure" and writing that its climax, in which Katak must battle a polar bear, was perhaps too reminiscent of Watership Down to be appropriate for younger children.[1]
Awards
The film won four awards at the Festival de cinéma en famille de Québec, for people's choice, best screenplay, best art direction and a special mention from the youth jury.[7]
The film received two Prix Iris nominations at the 25th Quebec Cinema Awards in 2023, for Most Successful Film Outside Quebec and the Public Prize.[8]
References
- 1 2 Cath Clarke, "Katak: The Brave Beluga review – gentle whale tale with a Watership Down ending". The Guardian, August 7, 2023.
- 1 2 Amélie Revert, "«Katak, le brave béluga»: très chère mer". Le Devoir, February 24, 2023.
- 1 2 Mercedes Milligan, "Quebec’s ‘Katak the Brave Beluga’ Surpasses $1.5M Box Office Across Canada". Animation Magazine, March 30, 2023.
- ↑ Mercedes Milligan, "SODEC Dives in with Support for 10th Ave’s ‘Beluga Blues’". Animation Magazine, May 15, 2020.
- ↑ Tifa Bourjouane, "Katak, un béluga pas comme les autres". Ici Radio-Canada Québec, February 18, 2023.
- ↑ Maxime Demers, "Le film d’animation québécois «Katak, le brave béluga» sort sur 300 écrans en France". Le Journal de Montréal, October 23, 2023.
- ↑ Yves Leclerc, "Festival de cinéma en famille de Québec: quatre prix pour Katak, le brave béluga". Le Journal de Québec, March 14, 2023.
- ↑ "Québec Cinéma dévoile les finalistes aux PRIX IRIS 2023". CTVM, November 14, 2023.