"Sami Blod" examines historical discrimination of the Nordic Sami
Lene (Cecilia Sparrok) and Njenna (Mia Erika Sparrok) By Moira Sullivan Sami Blod (Sami Blood – English) won the Jury Prize for best film at the Créteil International Film Festival that ran from 10- 19 March. The film was directed by Amanda Kernell in a co-production with Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Kernel attended the Danish Film School. Sami Blod begins in modern times where retired teacher Christina (Maj-Doris Rimpi) reluctantly attends the funeral of her sister in Northern Sweden with her son and granddaughter. When she arrives she distances herself from the people who are Sami’s and refuses to speak their language. She walks off to a hotel and refuses to live with them and to participate later in reindeer herding. Then there is a flashback to the 1930’s in Sweden where two sisters are sent to boarding school to learn Swedish customs. Elle Marja ( Lene Cecilia Sparrok) and Njenna (Mia Erika Sparrok) – both sisters in real life undergo blatant discriminatio...