PROJECT IN DEVELOPMENT
FEATURE ANIMATION FILM


Concept by Konrad Nuka Godtfredsen
Original story by Lisbeth Valgreen.
Screenplay by Lisbeth Valgreen & Jericca Cleland
Directed by Jericca Cleland
Produced by Peter Sølvsten Thomsen

In collaboration with NØRLUM, TAQQUT and ANDALA

“Raven Girl” takes place in a modern-day Greenlandic fishing village which hosts a mix of traditional fishermen and an international commercial fishing Company. 

The story centres on 12-year old MALIINA. She starts out as a product of her culture and age-- caught up in concerns of school, friends, and family life. Uncertain in herself, she complies with her parents’ wishes, follows the lead of the popular girl in class, and generally tries to conform. But Maliina is drawn into the magic of the Spirit Realms through a vision shown to her blind grandfather ITTU, a Shaman in the old tradition. The vision shows that all sea life flees north, away from Tulugalik, and then calamity strikes their village in the form of severe storms! 

Maliina’s father JAKOB is the best fisherman in town; he refuses to work for the Company, and disapproves of the abandoned cannery they promised to build for local jobs. Most people in town still hope to see the cannery finished someday, in exchange for the fishing rights they gave the Company. When the fish in the waters around her home actually begin to disappear, Maliina goes to her grandfather to ask about his vision. Surprised that she could see it, Ittu asks her to help solve the mystery, as he is no longer strong enough to do what must be done to save their home. At first, she refuses--she is just a typical kid, how could she? But as her family and the village struggle with the shortage of fish and the reality of the vision begins to take form, Maliina feels compelled to try, despite her lack of self-confidence. 

Tension rises in the community, and people begin to lash out. Out of jealousy, someone damages Jakob’s boat, setting the family back financially.  Others damage the Cannery -frustrated by the Company’s unfulfilled promise while taking fish from Tulugalik’s waters. 

Maliina journeys into the Spirit Realms and meets her Power Animal: to her disappointment, the bold and tricky Raven. But it turns out the myth is true!  The fish are hiding in the hair of the Mother of the Sea, and she is becoming angrier every day! 

Great storms begin to threaten water and land, fishermen and townsfolk alike. Raven promises to help Maliina, who is untrained and unsure, but it is a difficult and dangerous undertaking. He helps her manifest him as a boy in the Real World--irreverent, goofy, and a bit of a troublemaker.

Through her relationship with Raven, Maliina grows to find the courage and strength to confront the Mother of the Sea before the storms destroy everyone and everything she loves. And inspires her passive community to change for the better as well.

Still