Aslak Paltto

Shelter (Suodji) is an adaptation of an old story from Utsjoki, Sápmi, to the present. It is a legend of what the director´s relative, Ovllá-Ivvár Helander, did during the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918 in Utsjoki. Ovllá-Ivvár decided to fool Death and take his fate into his own hands. Today we are facing similar threats. The protagonist of the film is walking in Ovllá-Ivvár´s footsteps. But at the end, who its really who?

The Sami people, mainly found in Russia and Lapland, continue their struggle against oppression and colonialism. For centuries, they have faced institutionalized racism, marginalization, and repression of their culture and language. Through activism, they have gained recognition and respect in recent years, but the struggle is not over. Through art and cultural resilience, the Sami assert their rights to exist and thrive in their ancestral lands.

Reindeer herder is living the hardest and longest winter ever and is forced to feed the reindeer to keep them alive. All the days are the same while feeding, herding and refueling. Herder can not have a break until snow melts. All the time there is something that drives him ahead.