#21: THE TUNDRA WITHIN ME - Authenticity in Sámi Stories with Sara Margrethe Oskal

In Episode #21 of film.macht.kritisch., I speak with Sámi artist Sara Margrethe Oskal about authenticity, indigenous storytelling, and the making of her debut feature Eallogierdu – THE TUNDRA WITHIN ME (2023) 🎬. SHORT BIO Sara Margrethe Oskal is a Sámi filmmaker, author, performer, actor, and joiker from Guovdageaidnu (Kautokeino), Norway. She worked for ten years as a reindeer herder on the Sápmi tundra before turning to theatre, performing arts, and cinema, and later earned a PhD in Performing Arts at the Oslo National Academy of Arts. Her debut feature Eallogierdu – THE TUNDRA WITHIN ME premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023 and won the TILDA Award for Best Film by a Female Director at the Braunschweig International Film Festival in 2024. Sara currently stars in the TV series Heajastallan – A Sámi Wedding (2026, NRK) and in the opera Ovllá at the Oulu Sinfonia (Finland). She is developing her next feature, A House in the Arctic. Eallogierdu – THE TUNDRA WITHIN ME In her debut feature film, Sara Margrethe Oskal explores Sámi identity, intergenerational dynamics, and the delicate balance between tradition and modernity. The story follows Lena, a Sámi artist who has lived for many years in Oslo and returns to her hometown in the Sápmi tundra. She navigates family, gender roles, community, and personal choices, and through her romantic relationship with the reindeer herder Máhtte, both discover a new sense of belonging and connection to their roots.  The artworks attributed to Lena are created by Sámi artist Máret Ánne Sara, whose pieces appear throughout the film, enriching its visual and cultural landscape.   CAST & CREW Director / Writer: Sara Margrethe Oskal Cinematography: Anders Hoft Editor: Anna Løvlund Sound: Håkon Lammetun Producer: Mona Johanne Hoel Production Company: Freedom From Fear Distributor: MoreThan Films Cast: Risten Anine Gaup, Nils Ailu Kemi, Elias Ánte Pilutaq Gaup Lennert, Berit Anne O. Kemi EPISODE #21 THEMES Authenticity and honesty in filmmaking and indigenous storytelling Sámi culture, joik, and its role in music, memory, and resistance Gender, generational change, and community dynamics Emotional and metaphorical storytelling in THE TUNDRA WITHIN ME Contemporary challenges in Sámi life Representation of Sámi culture in film, theatre, and television LINKS Follow Sara Margrethe Oskal on Instagram Watch the official trailer for The Tundra Within Me Braunschweig International Film Festival 2024 – Highlights Heajastallan – A Sámi Wedding (TV series) on IMDb  Ovllá – Sámi opera at Oulu Sinfonia, Finland