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Folktales

Play trailer 1:53 Poster for Folktales Released Jul 25 1h 46m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 44 Reviews Popcornmeter 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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Folktales

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 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 Full Review Beth Accomando Vanguard Culture This is a feel good film that earns its uplifting emotions through a lot of hard work. Rated: 3/5 Aug 22, 2025 Full Review Christopher Cross Asynchronous Media Ewing and Grady’s documentary is a beautiful ode to what humans have always been capable of and a stark reminder of what is being lost as society becomes increasingly dependent on technology and less Rated: 4/5 Aug 20, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review Stephen C Real footage in 1 hour and 46 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Norwegian and American English audio versions with American English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $78,900.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/20/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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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
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 2, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA)
$116.4K
Runtime
1h 46m
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