Sameblod (2016)

	Also Known As: Sámi blood
	Year of first release: 2016
	Director: Amanda Kernell
	Actors: Lene Cecilia Sparrok, Mia Erika Sparrok, Maj-Doris Rimp, Julius Fleischanderl
	Country: S, N, DK
	Genre: Drama
	Conditions of visioning: 16.02.2017, Cubix8, Berlinale2017, Original Swedish and Southern Sami with English subtitles
Synopsis: In the 1930s, Elle Marja (Lene Cecilia Sparrok) and her sister Njenna (Mia Erika Sparrok) are forced to leave her reindeer-breeding Sámi family to attend boarding school far away from home, a typical practice at that time. With 14, Elle Marja is as strong-minded as she is rebellious. She strives for the approval of her teachers by outshining her classmates in adapting to Swedish culture, which she has been taught is far superior to her own. Yearning to fit into a society that is not truly open to welcoming her people, she suffers discrimination and psychological cruelty. Still, she would rather completely forsake her roots if it helped her to fit in.
Review:  For a debut feature, Amanda Kernell offers a picture of a woman who rejected her culture to be accepted in an expectedly better one and a focus on the transition phase at the start. Abuse imposed upon the Sámi by official institutions, depicted with behaviour of the teachers, the doctors, the parents and the friends of Lukas (Fleischanderl). Her tenacity makes her succeed. The atmosphere is oppressive as the Sámi are suspicious with regard to the Swedes and the Swedes see the Sámi clearly as animals or at least inferior beings. In addition to the Swede/Sámi opposition, there is also the man/woman wall to overcome. Therefore I believe the book is very rich and well written. It uses many conflicts that are emotionally binding. The acting is amazing. The young girls are Sámi and indeed reindeer-breeder. Not only the handling with knives is therefore authentic but also the emotions and the behaviour. On the other side, they are indeed acting, as there is neither exaggeration nor overreaction. The Swedes are acting with the latent racism that is oppressing The movie is done together with the Danish short movie Half&half.  The Q&A with the main actress Lene Cecilia Sparrok and the director Amanda Kernell is reported in the article on the Berlinale 2017.
Rating: 7/10