In the controversial 2006 documentary, Jesus Camp, kids seeking personal fulfillment and growth turned to a charismatic Christian summer camp for guidance. That film’s directors, Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, go in a vastly different direction with their latest, the feel-good coming-of-age doc Folktales, in which Norwegian kids going through a “gap year” take steps towards adulthood through nature, community, and dogsledding in the frigid Norwegian wilderness. It’s a rewarding experience that benefits from being seen with others close to your heart and, if possible, others who have a fondness for our canine friends.
I have to admit to being a bit obsessed with this movie since it premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. I was unable to catch up with the film there, but have been looking into it and the school at its center, Pasvik Folk High School. Spurred on by the promo image featuring a young woman and her Husky companion looking about as happy as two beings could possibly be, it just looked like the kind of film that would warm your heart. These days, it’s always a bit concerning when a doc takes a deep dive into any institution because you fear some horrible discovery, some corruption or rot beneath the surface. Folktales is definitely NOT that. The wholesomeness and hopefulness are its greatest perk, so much that you can forgive it for not being particularly deep.
So what is a folk high school? Well, they sound like something I would’ve benefitted from myself as a teen, and I bet there will be an uptick in interest from others after this movie. Originally established in 1840 Scandinavia, folk high schools were a way to give rural residents a free education. Now, it serves to give students who enroll a way to get back to the primal basics of life, away from external forces such as cell phones and social media, before heading into their adult lives.
Smartly, Folktales doesn’t stretch its focus too far, instead centering on three teens with differing social problems. The first and most interesting is 19-year-old Hege, whose cherubic face adorns much of the film’s marketing. It takes a while before we see that smile, though. Still grieving the murder of her father, Hege is a bundle of anxiety and indecision. When we first meet her, she’s contemplating how to bring seven mascaras (!!!) on this excursion into Mother Nature. She’s constantly on her phone, chatting with friends and scrolling her life away as a means of escaping reality.
There’s also the young men; Romain, who suffers from pretty severe social anxiety and insecurity; and Bjørn, a lanky young man and self-professed nerd who has been told he’s annoying so much he’s come to internalize it. Aided by their tough but nurturing teachers, these three learn to do things they never could’ve imagined, such as building fires, constructing shelters, skinning animals, and, of course, dogsledding.
It’s the canines, most Alaskan huskies, who steal the show. These are gorgeous, expressive animals with personalities of their own. The dogs are key to the growth of these students. Not only do they teach them how to care for another living creature, but they help to teach them patience. Because each animal is so different from others in the pack, it also aids the students in learning how to accept themselves for who they are. It’s okay to be different from others as long as you’re being yourself.
Hege has the greatest arc by far, and Folktales centers most of its attention on her. It helps that she’s the chattiest of the group, too. She’s unafraid to share her feelings, and it’s truly heartening to watch her blossom from a sullen girl to a bold, fearless woman who later admits that she’s never on the phone anymore. Romain and Bjørn’s stories don’t get as much attention, but it’s lovely how their stories intertwine as they become friends, discovering how much they have in common.
The wilderness adventures are compelling and a little bit scary. You fear the students’ possible failure as much as they do. There’s an extended sequence, near the end of the term, when they must spend a few nights camping outside, surviving with only the companionship of their canine pal. It’s in these moments that we see the evolution each of them has experienced. We also get some truly heartwarming stuff like Romain’s dog trying to snuggle up into his sleeping bag. It’s a shame that more time wasn’t given to this turning point trial, but what we get is thrilling. The same goes for the dogsledding sequences, which are shot from perspectives that puts you right at the reins. Gorgeous cinematography capturing the emerald night sky is so immersive, it’s like you’re there feeling the warmth of the fire against the bite of the icy air.
Folktales is a wonderful, evocative movie with real-life coming-of-age stories happening right in front of you. The inclusion of the Norse myth about the three Norns, deities who guide the fates of humans, is probably one high-minded idea too many, but that’s okay. There are simple joys to be found here and they shouldn’t be missed. The joy of watching young people transform, overcome life’s challenges, and find that thing that completes them.
Folktales is open in theaters now from Magnolia Pictures.
