Stella Polaris

The story is told through the memories of an unnamed woman who returns to the fishing village of her childhood. We see life in fragments – scenes from childhood play and friendship, adult love affairs, and everyday life on the pier and in the fishing boat. Jensen's narrative structure is associative and fragmented, a visual stream-of-consciousness that allows the audience room for their own interpretation.

The film is characterized by powerful and beautiful depictions of Northern Norwegian nature and coastal culture, but is broken by the entry of the Germans as a dark and disruptive element. Scenes from the occupation and the forced evacuation are potent, partly autobiographical memories that have clung to the consciousness. Stella Polaris is an important artistic work that serves as a letter sent from the past to us today.

With the increased level of conflict we see in the world, this film about security and preparedness in the North is highly relevant. It gives us space to reflect on how a troubled world affects both individuals and communities. Director Knut Erik Jensen possesses a distinctive voice that breaks with conventional rules, creating a work that is beautiful, poignant, sad, exploratory, and challenging all at once.