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Folktales

Play trailer 1:53 Poster for Folktales 1h 46m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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73% Tomatometer 15 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Verified 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.

Cast & Crew

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Heidi Ewing

Director

Rachel Grady

Director

Heidi Ewing

Producer

Rachel Grady

Producer

Lisa Schejola Akin

Executive Producer

Jeffrey Akin

Executive Producer

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Critics Reviews

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Peter Howell Toronto Star It’s beautiful to watch humanity’s best friends alleviate modern coming-of-age anxieties in troubled teens. The chilly Arctic climes make for an especially illuminating backdrop. Rated: 3/4 Feb 5, 2025 Full Review Matthew Creith TheWrap The ending is meant to be poignant, but it never satisfies in the manner the filmmakers intend. Even when we witness the after-effects of the dog sledding program and where these teenagers end up after graduation, the result isn’t satisfying. Jan 27, 2025 Full Review Kate Erbland IndieWire Not everything turns out the way we expect, not every story has a tidy ending, but no one ever said becoming a new self was easy or expected. Folk high school? It helps. And, yes, I’d still like to go. Rated: B+ Jan 27, 2025 Full Review Gerald Peary Arts Fuse We don’t learn enough about any of the teeners to make their journeys psychologically or spiritually meaningful. Jun 23, 2025 Full Review Rachel Wagner rachelsreviews.net Unfortunately it also feels repetitive with sluggish pacing that I grew tired of after a while. One of those Sundance documentaries that would be better as a short, but we get a feature. Mar 7, 2025 Full Review Alex Billington FirstShowing.net Folktales is an instant all-time favorite doc. Another doggie doc masterpiece. Another film that I think can and will change lives. Rated: 10/10 Feb 9, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews
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Folktales

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Movie Info

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
Runtime
1h 46m