Author: Jorge Perez
The Norns, three sisters who are powerful deities who are caretakers of the world tree Yggdrasil. Urd, who represents the past. Verdandi, who represents the present. Skuld, who represents the future. These three sisters not only care for the world tree, but they also weave the threads of fate and shape human futures. At Pasvik Folk High School, the staff tries to provide teens entering adulthood a life-changing experience by teaching them about dog sledding and Arctic survival. What exactly is a Folk High School? Mainly located in Nordic countries, a Folk High School is a residential educational institution that focuses on the students’ personal growth and community building. Pasvik Folk High School achieves this by teaching the students to reconnect with nature in hopes that they would rediscover themselves and their worth. Of course, this concept is still difficult to achieve, especially since we now live in a world where technology and digital devices take up most of our lives.
Oscar®-nominated filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady bring us Folktales, a life-affirming documentary fresh off its Sundance premiere. The film follows three students, Hege, Bjørn Tore, and Romain, who attend Pasvik Folk High School for a transformative “gap year” rooted in nature, physical labor, and emotional growth. With no phones, grades, or internet, they must rely on themselves, one another, and a pack of loyal sled dogs to rediscover their self-worth in a world dominated by digital connection. Each student arrives with personal challenges, and over the course of the year, we witness their growth and self-discovery. One of the most striking aspects of the film is how the school operates: its environment is both welcoming and demanding, fostering resilience through adversity. The teachers play a vital role, encouraging students not to fear failure but to view it as part of the learning process. Folktales expertly captures this journey of reconnection with nature, and the deep, personal work of discovering what it truly means to be oneself.
I had a chance to speak with one of the co-directors, Heidi Ewing, of Folktales and talk about this wonderful documentary. Upon immediate entrance into Zoom, I could tell she was a natural, warm, and inviting personality. We talked about our shared love of dogs, and the grief that comes from watching them age and eventually pass. I honestly didn’t expect to be so vulnerable with her right off the bat, but just like the film she directed, she has a way of bringing out authenticity and genuineness.
I asked her in what way this documentary explored the concept of self-worth and self-discovery. She stated, “I think it shows that people need space and time and solitude sometimes to find themselves.” She continued, “So all of the students who went were totally taking a leap of faith and doing something that was unexpected in their lives. So I think that they were rewarded for that bravery because they learned that real life can compete strongly with digital devices and maybe they didn’t know that before.”
Making a documentary such as Folktale must have had its challenges. I inquired of Ewing what the most difficult part of making this documentary was. “I could say that it would be just shooting in negative 30, but really it was Gen Z.” stated Ewing. “They’re very specific you know, they’re not used to not having control of their own image, you know, and it took a lot of trust and a lot of conversations for them to allow us to follow them and to film them.” Her sentiment was that people of different generations working together have differing thought processes and perceptions of the world. Ewing stated, “We had to learn a lot of patience and that’s great because that’s what a folk high school also teaches you.”
With Folktales’ wonderful storytelling, I wanted to know what Ewing hopes the audience will take away from watching this documentary. “I think there’s a tenderness to these students and to this program and these characters. I hope that people find some love and empathy for these young people right now. And realize how curious and pure and, lovely they are as a generation instead of sort of always pointing out their flaws.”
One of my favorite aspects of Folktales is how the students interacted with the sled dogs. The dogs showed a wide range of personalities. Some were super energetic, others were shy, and others were easy going. One thing is for sure: these dogs showed an amazing presence in which it can arguably be said they gave off a healing energy. This documentary expertly shows its audience how we as individuals are capable of change, self-healing, and self-discovery to present a better version of ourselves. It also shows how failing or making mistakes is not necessarily a bad thing. What matters when we fail or make a mistake is how we get back up and try again.
Watch Folktales and reflect on your own path to growth. Share your thoughts or a moment when nature helped you reconnect with yourself in the comments.