Ellos eatnu - La elva leve

Many viewers might go into the movie thinking it is about saving a river - but really , it is about giving an impactful insight into what it feels like being robbed of your cultural identity, what assimilation feels like.

The acting, directing, cinematography and music really comes together to give gravity to the scenes.

Having the main character work in school as a teacher, works well to highlight the big role the public school system played in the assimilation policies that were in place.

I am unsure in what ways this movie communicates to audiences that does not know the backdrop of Norwegian-Sami relations, and if foreign viewers might find certain elements under-communicated, but for me, this movie was, like the best movies, a teacher of empathy for other people's struggles.

The movie is more about the main characters personal journey, with the river protests as a catalyst for change, than the actual river protests.

A must see, especially for Norwegians, Swedish, Finnish and Sami people.