Around the year 1000 AD warlike people, the so-called "tjuder", roam in northern Scandinavia. As they brutally kill a family in a remote area, including the parents and their little daughter, the family's teenage son, Aigin, observes the slaughter. He manages to flee from these killers and reaches a camp with other Sámi whose inhabitants are worried if he has been able to hide his track. Afraid of the murderous people, they decide to flee to the coast. The boy stays alone to avenge his family's murder. Unfortunately, they get him before he can do anything and force him to lead them to the other Sámi. He guides them but has a plan to destroy the barbarous people before reaching the camp.
Cinematography
Bleak Lapland landscapes that breathe and kill
Practical Effects
Zero CGI snow—every avalanche is real terror
Acting
Mikkel Gaup's silent rage speaks volumes
Director
Nils Gaup
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
First Sámi-language film ever nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars, losing to Babette's Feast.
Director Nils Gaup cast his own son Mikkel as Aigin; the film revived Sámi storytelling traditions nearly erased by Norwegian assimilation policies.
NO
