Photo credit: Tori Edvin Eliassen. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
In “Folktales,” the directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady take viewers into the snow-laden world of Pasvik Folk High School, a remote institution in northern Norway where teenagers spend a gap year immersed in nature, tradition and the care of sled dogs.
Set just below the Arctic Circle, the film quietly tracks the growth of three students as they grapple with grief, self-doubt and the search for connection.
Hege, 19, is mourning the death of her father and hopes the stark northern landscape might help her regain a sense of clarity. Bjørn Tore, an outgoing but socially anxious classmate, wonders why his friendships never last. Romain, who has traveled from the Netherlands, arrives withdrawn and uncertain, looking for confidence in a new place. Their shared time at Pasvik includes forest treks, survival skills and long days in the dog yard, practical lessons that slowly transform into something more personal.
The film is as concerned with the animals as it is with the students. Each sled dog has its own quirks and temperament, and the camera captures how, over time, these dogs become both companions and catalysts for change. The bond between human and animal is rendered without sentimentality, and the filmmakers suggest that trust—built through routine, patience and physical care—can offer a foundation for emotional growth.
Visually, “Folktales” is often breathtaking. The cinematographers Lars Erlend Tubaas Øymo and Tor Edvin Eliassen deliver sweeping drone views of the Norwegian landscape, but it is the quiet, close moments that give the film its intimacy. Glimpses of students preparing meals, cleaning kennels or pausing in silence are just as affecting as the grand, snow-drenched vistas.
Layered throughout are elements of Norse mythology, including references to the Norns, female figures said to weave the fates of all living beings. A tree wrapped in red thread appears at intervals, a visual reminder of the fragility and interconnectedness of the students’ journeys. These symbolic flourishes add dimension but do not overwhelm the human narrative at the film’s center.
“Folktales” does not rely on dramatic twists or sweeping revelations. Instead, it honors the slow, uncertain process of personal growth. A dogsled run in the final act offers a release both literal and emotional, capturing a fleeting but powerful sense of freedom.
This is ultimately a film about becoming, about the quiet, often uncomfortable space between adolescence and adulthood. In showing how young people find their way not through lecture or pressure, but through connection to animals, nature and each other, “Folktales” suggests that the path to selfhood is not always straight, but it is worth taking. The film opens this month at Midtown Cinema.
Midtown Cinema is located at 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com. Stuart Landon is the director of community engagement at Midtown Cinema.
August Events
At Midtown Cinema
Late Night Frights
“The Thing” (1982)
Friday, Aug. 1, 9:30 p.m.
Saturday Morning Cartoons
“An American Tail: Fievel Goes West” (1991)
Saturday, Aug. 2, 11 a.m.
Open Mic Night
Tuesday, Aug. 5
Tuesday, Aug. 19
Friends of Midtown Outdoor Film Series
“Dirty Dancing” (1987)
Saturday, Aug. 9, 9 p.m.
“Moana 2” (2025)
Saturday, Aug. 23, 8:15 p.m.
Sunday Docs
“My Octopus Teacher” (2020)
Sunday, Aug 10, 12 p.m.
Trivia Night
Tuesday, Aug. 12
Tuesday, Aug. 26
3rd in the Burg Movie Night
“Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015)
Friday, Aug. 15, 9:30 p.m.
Funny Flicks
“The Big Lebowski” (1998)
Sunday, Aug. 17, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m.
Late Night Frights
“Re-Animator” (1985)
Friday, Aug. 22, 9:30 p.m.
“The Addams Family” (1991)
Friday, Aug. 29, 9:30 p.m.
National Theatre Live
“A Streetcar Named Desire”
Sunday, Aug. 31, 5 p.m.
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
