Folktales

The new documentary Folktales by Oscar-nominated filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady takes viewers to the far north of Norway. At the Pasvik Folk High School, 200 miles above the Arctic Circle, a group of teenagers opts for an unconventional gap year: no classroom lessons or screens, but dog sledding, surviving in the Arctic wilderness, and learning to rely on each other – and on a loyal pack of Alaskan huskies. 

Ewing and Grady follow the young people on the brink of adulthood. Uncertainty and resistance gradually transform into personal growth, self-confidence, and a deeper connection with nature and each other. In the myths of the ancient North, the Norns weave the fate of mankind. The filmmakers show in Folktales how today’s youth spin their own threads as they rediscover themselves amid the breathtaking landscape and harsh conditions of the far north. 

The result is a heartwarming portrait of a generation searching for meaning and direction, far from the hustle and bustle of the modern world. Folktales illustrates how perseverance, self-sufficiency, and kindness can transform young lives – and proves that the lessons of nature may be the most valuable. A film that is both moving and inspiring.