SCANDI, a showcase of the diversity and richness of contemporary Scandinavian cinema that stimulates debate on pressing social issues. A Nordic experience that sends shivers down the spine.
The candid debut of former reindeer herder Sara Margrethe Oskal, screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. Sami artist Lena and her son arrive in the snowy landscape of Lapland in northern Norway to gain inspiration for an upcoming project on Sami gender issues. She grew up in the almost fairytale landscape and with her arrival she begins to take stock of her roots. She has lived in the big city for years, and the slower pace of life, interconnectedness with nature and hard manual labour are leading her to revise her priorities. She falls in love with Máhtte, a reindeer herder. His mother disapproves of Lenina's way of life and sees her as an intruder. Doubts surface as to whether the relationship even has a future, while Lena begins to question her own art. The specific sub-world of the tundra reflects on the national heritage of Lapland society, its identity and particular habits. The candid film is a journey into the heart of a personal crisis and the search for hope. The beautifully shot scenery is as dazzling as it is melancholic at the same time. A universal story about finding one's place in a community, it goes far beyond local specifics and gets under everyone's skin.
Czech subtitles
Drama
Norway, 2023, 95 min
Directed by Sara Margrethe Oskal
Programming subject to change.
