Folktales

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1:53

Folktales

Jul 2025

1h 46m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

83%

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46 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

In Oscar®-nominated filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady's life-affirming documentary, teenagers converge at a traditional folk high school in Arctic Norway where they must rely on only themselves, one another, and a loyal pack of sled dogs as they all grow in unexpected directions. In Norse mythology, the three "Norns" are powerful deities who weave the threads of fate and shape humans' futures. Today, Pasvik Folk High School in northern Norway aims to produce a similar life-changing effect on its students. FOLKTALES tells the timely and heartwarming story of teenagers who choose to spend an unconventional "gap year" learning to dog sled and survive the Arctic wilderness, in hopes of finding connection and meaning in the modern world. Guided by patient teachers and a yard full of heroic Alaskan huskies, they discover their own potential and develop deep relationships with the land, animals and humans around them. Through intimate verité storytelling and exhilarating cinematography, Ewing and Grady examine humans on the cusp of adulthood, finding themselves at the edge of the world.

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Critics Consensus

Folktales may skim the surface of its subjects' growing pains, but is most resonant in its heartwarmingly pleasant, canine-abundant exterior.

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Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

It looks exhilarating, and if the filmmakers are ultimately there to play, not probe, that’s fine, even if you may not know these kids at the end any better than you did at the beginning.

Aug 4, 2025

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Ty Burr

Washington Post

The great satisfaction of this documentary is seeing the troubled children of the early scenes emerge with a maturity and equanimity that comes from pushing oneself past the furthest you thought you could go.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 1, 2025

Full Review

Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady’s engaging documentary isn’t adventurous by any stretch and does exactly what you would expect of it by tagging along with Hege, Romain and Bjørn... And that’s not a bad thing.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 1, 2025

Full Review

Annlee Ellingson

CineWomen

Ewing and Grady braid in the Norse mythology of three Norns — powerful deities who shape humans’ futures by weaving threads of fate. It’s a rich metaphor, returned to again and again.

Sep 13, 2025

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Stephen Silver

The SS Ben Hecht

A doc is only as good as its subjects, and unfortunately, the filmmakers here didn’t choose good ones. I honestly found the whole thing crushingly boring.

Sep 7, 2025

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Carla Hay

Culture Mix

Folktales is a documentary that is style over substance. However, there's enough substance for people interested in seeing how a Norwegian folk high school builds character and confidence through dog sledding. Heartfelt moments balance out slow pacing.

Sep 4, 2025

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Stephen D

The directors take the documentary form beyond all expectations. This is less documentary and more an ethereal narrative. Exquisite cinematography and sound design.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/11/25

Full Review

Ruta S

I can't recommend it. Although the idea of the film is really touching, as it lets us follow the growth and the struggles along the way of the teenagers trying to figure out "the chaos" of life. I find it unnecessary, however, for this to have the background glorifying dog sledding industry that is rather a cruel one, built almost entirely on the exploitation and abuse of dogs. These dogs are kept outside chained in all weather extremes, unable to move more than few feet in any direction of a box that's an embarrassment to call a doghouse... Tradition is no excuse for animal abuse, we can do (and teach kids) better.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/03/25

Full Review

Coqui A

Very touching and powerful documentary that shows the journey of a group of young people finding a sense of self and purpose in a gap year program that includes dog sledding and survival skills.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/02/25

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Stephen C

Real footage in 1 hour and 46 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $128,900.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Norway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/13/25

Full Review

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Heidi Ewing

Director

Rachel Grady

Director

Maiken Baird

Executive Producer

Michael Bloom

Executive Producer

Christine Connor

Executive Producer

Ian Darling

Executive Producer

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Folktales: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In Oscar®-nominated filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady's life-affirming documentary, teenagers converge at a traditional folk high school in Arctic Norway where they must rely on only themselves, one another, and a loyal pack of sled dogs as they all grow in unexpected directions. In Norse mythology, the three "Norns" are powerful deities who weave the threads of fate and shape humans' futures. Today, Pasvik Folk High School in northern Norway aims to produce a similar life-changing effect on its students. FOLKTALES tells the timely and heartwarming story of teenagers who choose to spend an unconventional "gap year" learning to dog sled and survive the Arctic wilderness, in hopes of finding connection and meaning in the modern world. Guided by patient teachers and a yard full of heroic Alaskan huskies, they discover their own potential and develop deep relationships with the land, animals and humans around them. Through intimate verité storytelling and exhilarating cinematography, Ewing and Grady examine humans on the cusp of adulthood, finding themselves at the edge of the world.

Director: Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady
Producer: Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Magnolia Pictures, Topic Studios, Fifth Season, Loki Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Norwegian
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 25, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 2, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA): $128.9K
Runtime: 1h 46m

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