I saw this documentary back in April at MSPIFF, and I’m sure glad I saw this on the big screen. Great documentaries pull you into a world you might not know much about, thanks to firsthand and in-depth storytelling and stunning visuals. That’s the main appeal of Folktales, as it tracks the experiences of a group of teens attending a traditional folk high school in Arctic Norway while they explore their own personal growth.

At Pasvik Folk High School, these teens must depend on themselves, their friends, and a dedicated team of sled dogs as they all evolve in surprising ways. The school is located in Finnmark, situated far above the Arctic Circle, and represents the height of Norway’s natural splendor, featuring stunning mountains, secluded forests, and some of the most untouched wilderness in Europe. The film is stunningly captured, starting with a night scene of someone strolling through the snowy woods. It then shifts to a nightclub where a young woman, Hege, shares her experience, stating that ‘being a young woman is chaos.’ She had lost her father in a motorbike accident and decided to take a gap year to attend Pasvik.

Directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, the film dives into Norse mythology, telling the tale of the three mighty deities known as the Norns, who spin the threads of destiny and influence the futures of humans. The school aims to produce a life-changing effect on its students, as they have to learn to develop relationships with the land, animals, and humans around them. I really think it would benefit so many young students in the increasingly digital world and social media obsession to get away from electronic devices, even for just a few days. I’d even think it’s necessary for their mental health to truly unplug.

When I was 16, I attended a Summer camp in California during the same year I lost my late mother. They taught us the basics of teamwork and how to conquer certain fears, like heights and public speaking. Now, Pasvik is more of a survival school, where students learn to survive and thrive in the wild, including making a fire, cutting fish, finding water, etc.

The dog sledding parts are the highlight, as I absolutely adore those cute Huskies. Honestly, I wish I could spend a few days just hanging out with those beautiful Alaskan and Siberian huskies. It can be difficult, of course, as each student is assigned a dog that they have to feed and care for, but the adventures they get to do with these dogs sound way more enjoyable than mindlessly scrolling through social media. ‘The dogs teach the students to be more human,’ one of the teachers said in an interview. I can totally see that, though I don’t know if I could survive sleeping on my own in absolute darkness in the woods, even with a dog with me.

It’s fascinating to see how the various students, some came all the way from the Netherlands, deal with the challenges. Of course, some of them cope better than others, but the teachers, Iselin and Thor-atle, don’t baby the students. I empathize with the struggles of one Dutch student, Romain, the most emotional one of the bunch. But in the end, he’s able to pull through, and it’s heartwarming to see him gain more confidence and learn to trust others. Meanwhile, Bjørn provides some comic relief with his carefree and outspoken attitude.

As I mentioned above, the stunning cinematography is absolutely breathtaking, shot by DP Lars Erlend Tubaas Øymo and cinematographer Tor Edvin Eliassen. The winter landscape, with icicles hanging from tree branches and the snowy forests, makes me in awe, even though I just came out of the winter season in Minnesota when I saw this. There’s also a scene featuring the spectacularly vibrant Northern Lights, which is on the top of my bucket list to see one day!

While there are some slow moments during the 1-hour-45-minute running time, this life-affirming documentary is quite engaging for the most part. I think it’s quite inspiring to watch these students realize they’re more capable than they originally thought. The pep-talk from the teacher on the last week of school really resonated with me as a life-long learner: Open door, take chances, spread your wings. This is one of the most uplifting films about teenagers I’ve come across in a long time, and I believe it’s not only for Gen-Zers since there are many valuable lessons for adults as well. I really hope every student takes those words seriously and that the lessons they learn stick with them when they go back home.

The Folktales documentary is currently playing in select theaters nationwide

What are your thoughts about Folktales?