A delightful portrait of Sámi culture, and a charming love story.
The last few years have seen a growth in interest and understanding of the culture of the Sámi, the indigenous peoples of the Arctic. Sara Margrethe Oskal’s debut feature The Tundra Within Me is another splendid addition to this canon.
After living for many years in Oslo, Sámi artist Lena moves back to Sápmi in Northern Norway with her young son. She is working on a project where she explores the lives and struggles of female reindeer herders, but is finding herself not fully welcomed, due to her decision years before to sell her own family’s herd, and move to Oslo. She meets herder Máhtte and his indomitable mother, matriarch of an important family in the town. Whilst struggling with her identity as woman, artist, mother, Sámi, and ex-herder, she falls in love with Máhtte.
Oskal is herself an ex-herder, and so brings a wealth of knowledge, understanding, and compassion, to her portrayal of this unique lifestyle. Cinematographer Anders Hoft is given extraordinary material to work with in herds of reindeer moving across the snow-covered tundra.
In the leading roles are Risten Anine Kvernmo Gaup as Lena and Nils Ailu Kemi as Máhtte both of whom put in moving and subtle performances. Oskal’s screenplay gives them, and the rest of the cast, some solid material to work with, delving into issues of Indigenous identity, and in particular its sometimes troubled intersection with women’s rights.
The Tundra Within Me is a visually beautiful piece of cinema, and a respectful portrait of Sámi culture, in particular the reindeer herding life. But fundamentally it is a good old-fashioned love story. And although sweet and charming, it is this which ultimately makes it a somewhat unsatisfying narrative. Some edgier writing would have lifted this film to a higher level.
Despite its drawbacks, The Tundra Within Me is a very enjoyable, fascinating, and engaging, feature.
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