THE TUNDRA WITHIN ME/ EALLOGIERDU

Norway, 2023, 95 minutes, Colour.

Risten Anine Kvernmo Gaup, Nils Ailuy Kemi, Berit Anne Oskal Kemi, Elias Ante Pilutaq Gaup Lennert.

Directed by Sara Margrethe Oskal.

This is a film for the Sami people, in the northern areas of the Scandinavian countries, memories of their culture, its being more accepted, the language, behaviour, sense of humour, and the hurting of reindeer.

The focus of the film is on Lena, an artist, her husband leaving her to start another family, bonding with her son and deciding to move back home, a project to explore women as managers in reindeer herding. It emerges that she had been skilful this in the past telling her heard and moving to the city to pursue her art.

She returns to the north with her son, meeting again with her mother after neglecting visits, incurring suspicions from the other townspeople with memories of her. She encounters reindeer herder who likes his work but has not given free rein by his mother who continues as the management herder.

Almost needless to say, the romance is to be expected, and some ups and downs before final resolution. And the son finds it congenial to stay in the north.

While the focus of the research is on women herding managers, there is also the focus on Lena’s art, somewhat graphic, startling, very much feminist in protest against women’s subordinate roles.

While the setting and the photography of the snowclad region and the herds of reindeers are striking, the characters are much as expected.

1. A story of Sami culture, Norway, the people, the language, the customs, their sense of humour, the reindeer herding, social life, the bar, shops, bones? The musical score?
2. The location photography, the snowclad vistas, the reindeer herds, homes, the club, the details of farm work?
3. Lena’s story, family background, husband and new family, with her son, her art in Oslo, its style, her feminist issues? Her relationship with her son? Leaving the North, her memories, clashes with her mother, the bus return, the bus hitting the heifer, arrival, the accommodation, setting up a studio, the interactions with her mother, her mother welcoming her grandson? Settling in, the project, female reindeer herding managers, her own back experience, selling the herd, moving away?
4. Mahtte and his story, the accident with the heifer, glimpsing him, relationship with his mother, the reputation of his father, working with his uncle? His mother managing the herd, not handing over to her son? His brother and moved to the city, courses? Mahtte, his personality, friendships in the town, with a fellow herder and expectations of romance? The encounters with Lena, with her son, scooter ride, the rehabilitation of the heifer, his mother fixing the dislocation? Inviting Lena to the celebration?
5. People in the town, the different attitudes towards Lena, her wanting interviews, Mahtte promising his mother, the attitudes of the women spurning her, too busy? The sympathetic woman and the interview? Her going to the club, the competition, celebrating her father, emotional, friendship with Mahtte, her leaving, her winning the competition? Her friendship with the owner, from the past?
6. Her artwork, the visuals, feminist? Her place at home, the herding, the episode with Mahtte and the lassoo? Her skills? The growing relationship with Mahtte?
7. The tensions, the relationship, her ambitions, the city or not? Discussions with her mother? Her son settling in, his friendship with Mahtte?
8. The scenes of outdoor action, the roaming herds, the boundaries, the different owners, the mingling of the herds, capturing of the reindeer, marking them for ownership?
9. Lena and her intervention, her regrets, her judgments on Mahtte? The final decisions? Reconciliation, her son, the future?