The Tundra within Me

The debut of Sara Margrethe Oskal, a director who used to be a reindeer herder herself, screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. Sami artist Lena, along with her son, arrive in the snowy landscape of Lapland in northern Norway to get inspiration for her upcoming project on Sami gender issues, and to explore her roots in the fairytale-like landscape she grew up in. After living the city life for years, the slower pace of life, connections with nature and hard manual labour make her reconsider her priorities. She falls in love with Máhtte, a reindeer herder whose mother disapproves of Lena's way of life and sees her as an intruder. Doubts soon surface as to whether the relationship even has a future. Meanwhile, Lena begins to question her art. The unique world of the tundra reflects on the national heritage of Lapland society, its identity, habits and rituals. The film is a journey into the heart of a personal crisis and a search for hope. It’s beautifully shot and is as dazzling as it is melancholic. A universal story about finding one's place in a community.