Consider the world consisting of two types of people: those who see Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady’s delightful and emotionally ”Folk tales“And think,” yes, I would also like to spend a year at a Norwegian folk high school “, and those who can’t understand 10 months near the Arctic Circle and learn to hunt, knit, hike, camp, dog sledding, and so much more . But everyone is vulnerable to being swept up by this dreamy, sensitive story about the brave teenagers who do just that.
When the kids come at Pasvik Folk High SchoolThey are warned that this is not like any other middle years; This experience aims to build teenagers to nothing less than a “new version of the self”. Ewing and Grady give us just enough background stories about folk high schools-around the 19th century, which originally offered rural children who are looking for further education-so that we can appreciate their power and place in Norwegian society. For the most part, they seem to work.
Ewing and Grady follow a trio of students over a year at Pasvik, who all arrive in “Finnmark, Norway’s northernmost and most exciting county … almost right at the border with Russia” (an incredible description of the area, Care of Pasvik’s own website) with Different worries and goals.
When we meet Hege, 19 and struggle with her father’s death, she is in the middle of a traditional Norwegian teenager who includes clubing with her friends and quarrel with mom about how many mascaras she will bring. (Nine, her mother advises, is too many.) In Hege’s mind, growing up is nothing less than “chaos”. Inspired by a distant memory of her father who told us about the joy of dog sledding, she hopes that Pasvik can help her get free from these worries.
At Pasvik we meet two of Hege’s classmates: Bjørn Tore (19, from Norway, has difficulty making and retaining friends) and Romain (18, from the Netherlands, lacking self -confidence). At first redness, the students in Pasvik (fuck, even teachers and administrators) see all fresh, healthy, vital and ready to take on the world. But as Ewing and Grady reveal in “folktales” everyone has a lot to grow.
Growth is the key word because the filmmakers also weave in stories (well, folk tales) from the Norwegian traditions concerned with the nornsA trio of Nordic gods believed to be responsible for the design of human fate and have the task of taking care of Yggdrasill, the tree at the center for everything. Ewing and Gradu give this myth life by taking us to a strong and steady tree in the middle of the forest, wrapped with red cords, those that both bind and damage. It is a powerful symbol of fate and, yes, growth.
Visual interest is natural for “folktales” thanks to Lars Erlend Tubaa’s Ømo’s sharp and immersive film; It is impressive whether he takes us through a forest through drones or guides us along a sled track through a dog’s own line of sight. T. Griffin’s vibrant, vibrant original music gives a magnificent feeling for even everyday chores (and especially really grandiose segments, as a large dog sled tour in filmlast act).
And those dogs! Much of the children’s time is spent on entertaining the school’s dog yard and learning how to mash the broken group of puppies who call Pasvik their home. Every dog is a little different – some are more nervous than others, some are quite loving, everyone is energetic – which is, we hear, meant to reflect the students at Pasvik. Different dogs for different children.
That Hege, Bjørn Tore and Romain will learn some major lifework by Pasvik in general and the puppies in particular is expected, but it is not a given. Instead, we are offered all the joys and pain during 10 transformative months, with Ewing and Gradu that takes us into an experience that is both specific and strangely universal. Everything is not as we expect, not every story has a nice end, but no one has ever said it was easy or expected to be a new self. Folk High School? It helps. And yes, I would still like to go.
Rating: B+
“Folktales” premiered in 2025 Sundance Film festival. It is currently seeking distribution in the United States.
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