Cinematic Representations of the Sámi by Insiders and Outsiders

Abstract

In the early years of Sámi cinema, representations of the Sámi were typically determined by non-Sámi creators. The release of the first Sámi-made film Ofelaš (1987) marked the beginning of cinematic Sámi representations by insiders of this culture. Scholars have made many assertions about differences in the representation of Sáminess between outsiders and insiders. However, these theories are largely based on 20th century releases. In this thesis the assertions about insider and outsider Sámi cinema are reviewed through the analyses of two contemporary releases featuring Sámi(-based) characters: Sami Blood (2016) and Frozen II (2019). The results show that some elements that have been named as typical for either insider or outsider Sámi-films can be recognized in Sami Blood and Frozen II, respectively. However, several features typical for insider Sámi cinema can be observed in the outsider film Frozen II.