Silent Film Reimagined: Sami Musicians Bring New Perspective

Authentic or Staged?

By Sledge and Reindeer in Inka Länta’s Winterland depicts Sami life in northern Sweden around 1920s. The film offers glimpses of daily life, reindeer herding, cooking in a lavvu, and notable highlights like the Jokkmokk market.

Little is known about the director Erik Bergström. One source describes him as a "nomadic school inspector," suggesting he might have worked in boarding schools for Sami children. This could have influenced his perspective in the film.

- Several scenes in the film appear as a documentary insight into Sami life in the 1920s, something not often captured on film. However, many scenes are clearly staged. It raises questions for me: What is authentic, and what is exoticized? For instance, there is a scene with a Swedish pastor. Does the relationship between Swedes and Sami people here feel authentic, or has the director glossed over conflicts and mistreatment that occurred? asks festival director Lisa Hoen.

Silent Film in a New Context

Supported by Barentskult, the project gives Sami musicians the opportunity to recontextualize the film and its content through their newly composed music.

- Music plays a defining role in the film experience. Here, we have the chance to take archival material and reinterpret it through Sami music, says Hoen.

All four participating musicians are past festival guests. Hildá & Tuomas performed at last year’s Closing Party with Lávre Johan Eira as a guest, while Svante Henryson contributed to a previous silent film project at TIFF in 2016.

- Hildá & Tuomas, with Lávre as a guest, delivered a phenomenal concert experience last year. They uniquely blend Sami traditional music with a modern and innovative expression, which fits TIFF perfectly, Hoen adds.

A Blend of Composition and Improvisation

Lávre Johan Eira and Hildá Länsman will take the musical lead for the silent film concert. They view the project as an opportunity not only to comment on and interpret the film but also to reflect on the broader issue of films made about the Sami people.

- The film is beautifully shot and has several sweet, personal scenes, but something that strikes me immediately is the familiar pattern of filmmakers creating documentaries about the Sami people from an outsider’s perspective, says Eira.

Both Länsman and Eira have noticed that the film contains both staged and seemingly unscripted scenes. They aim to incorporate this duality into their music, with some segments being composed and others left open for live improvisation during the performance.

- We’re curious to see how the musical dynamic will unfold and how we’ll use the various elements, like Henryson’s cello. We’re not classically trained in the traditional sense and will let our intuition guide our approach, says Eira.

One thing they already know is that traditional joik will play a role in the project. Eira’s musical expression is deeply rooted in the Sami vocal tradition of joik, while Länsman combines joik with modern music and visual art. Norvio, a sound designer and artist, brings a background in electronic music. Henryson contributes with expertise in three instruments: electric bass, double bass, and cello.

- We look forward to this musical collaboration, especially when we finally come together and start creating sound together, says Länsman.

Tickets for Sale Now

The film will be presented in a beautifully restored version, and the silent film concert will premiere on Friday, January 17, at 9:30 PM in the festival’s new venue, Alfheim Swimming Hall. The silent film concert will then continue its tour at Tromsø Silent Film Days at Verdensteatret, April 23–26, 2025.

The Lule Sami title of the film will be: Gierrisij ja hiergij Lenta Iŋŋgá dálvveednamin.

Read more about the film concert and get your tickets here.