‘Folktales': A Brilliant Way to Get Teenagers Off Phones
'Folktales'—the superb new documentary about teenagers escaping cellphone addiction and discovering their destiny—opens with a folktale from Norse Mythology. Deeply familiar to me, it's one of the first stories I heard in fourth grade, after switching from public school to a Waldorf school.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
8 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Teens connect with nature in ‘Folktales,' a dogumentary about a different kind of school
For centuries, mythology looked to gods to explain a disquieting world. But in the new documentary 'Folktales,' from 'Jesus Camp' filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, which follows a trio of jumbled Scandinavian teens to a remote Norwegian school that builds character in the snowy wild, the answer to life may just lie in what 'god' spells backward. In other words, yes, let's go to the dogs: sled dogs, specifically, whose personalities, purpose and compatibility are the secret sauce to a lesson plan that seeks to get kids out of their heads and into a stronger sense of self. The beautiful Alaskan and Siberian huskies that animate the dog-sledding instruction at Norway's Pasvik Folk High School are what help lift this handsomely photographed film above the usual heart warmer. Ewing and Grady are no stranger to this scenario, having observed at-risk Baltimore youth striving for stability ('The Boys of Baraka') and unhappy Hasidic Jews attempting to remove themselves from all they've ever known ('One of Us'). The situation is less sociologically dire in 'Folktales,' but it isn't any less compelling as a subject or less worthy of empathetic attention, especially when the stage for potential transformation is as rapturous as the birthplace of Vikings. Pasvik is 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, which means self-reliance isn't optional and knitting carries more practical weight than learning a math formula. As gap-year institutions dedicated to nurturing the transition to adulthood, folk schools have roots going back to the 19th century. Pasvik sees survival training as unlocking potential in teens too devoted to their phone screens. As convivial dog-sledding teacher Iselin puts it to the students, she wants to 'wake up your Stone Age brains.' For anxious, bubbly 19-year-old Hege, who lost her father and struggles with image issues, unplugging is tough at first. But she responds to its benefits, especially when entrusted with the care of Odin, a gorgeous, lovable canine with an expressive howl. Socially awkward Bjorn wants to stop harboring sad thoughts and second-guessing his nerdiness. Nothing like a majestic creature who rewards your undivided attention, then, to refocus one's energies. When the students are tasked with spending two nights in the forest alone with just their assigned huskies and camping acumen, their struggles give way to a turning point, what another kindhearted instructor describes as the special inner peace that comes with just 'a fire, a dog and a starry sky.' You also gather that Ewing and Grady may have been seeking some inspiration themselves. Hence, some arty montages of the icy wilderness (including some woo-woo yarn-and-tree symbolism) and an ambiance closer to warm spotlight than objective inquiry. That makes 'Folktales' decidedly more powdery than densely packed — it's all ruddy cheeks, slo-mo camaraderie and the healing power of steering a dog sled through breathtaking terrain. It looks exhilarating, and if the filmmakers are ultimately there to play, not probe, that's fine, even if you may not know these kids at the end any better than you did at the beginning. It's hard to say whether negative-minded high school dropout Romain will wind up on the other side of what troubles him. But we see how happy he is making friends and catching a glimpse of moose in the wild. It's a simple message, but 'Folktales' sells it: Nurture via nature.
Epoch Times
25-07-2025
- Epoch Times
‘Folktales': A Brilliant Way to Get Teenagers Off Phones
NR | 1h 45m | Documentary | 2025 'Folktales'—the superb new documentary about teenagers escaping cellphone addiction and discovering their destiny—opens with a folktale from Norse Mythology. Deeply familiar to me, it's one of the first stories I heard in fourth grade, after switching from public school to a Waldorf school.
Time Magazine
25-07-2025
- Time Magazine
The Story Behind 'Folktales' and the Arctic Refuge Where Teens Escape the Anxieties of Modern Life
In Finnmark, Norway, 200 miles above the Arctic Circle, stands Pasvik Folk High School. In Folktales, the latest documentary from filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Jesus Camp, One of Us), the pair ventured there to document its students, teenagers effectively taking a gap year, hundreds of miles away from the distractions of everyday life. The school focuses entirely on building character over grades and discovering a way of life immersed in nature. Visiting Finnmark, at the very top of Norway, is an experience like no other. 'I was surprised how much the place would affect me personally,' says Grady. 'As soon as you're there, your nervous system just settles down.' Ewing and Grady discovered folk schools after listening to a podcast by a dog sledder named Blair Braverman. They then read Braverman's book, Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube: Chasing Fear and Finding Home in the Great White North. 'She mentions in one chapter that she went to a folk high school in the north of Norway that changed her outlook on life,' says Ewing. Once the filmmakers learned more about folk schools, they were compelled by the idea of a school where students could go for a year and prioritize self-actualization over academics. 'As filmmakers, we've always been interested in those moments that flash between being a child and being an adult. And we're very intrigued by the words says to a young person that actually launch them in one direction or the other. If you can capture those moments as a verité filmmaker, it's extremely satisfying,' says Ewing. Folk schools are a popular way of learning across northern Europe. Over 400 exist in Scandinavia, 80 of which are in Norway. There's a great deal of variation across folk schools; students can learn filmmaking, circus arts, or even how to live like a Viking. But Ewing and Grady focused on a folk school where students learn primarily with Alaskan Huskies to hone their outdoor survival skills. 'There's the idea that these animals can help a human become more human,' Ewing says. Ewing and Grady embarked on making Folktales guided by a set of key questions. What could help young people deal with social anxiety? What can a young person who's lived through COVID-19 do that can allow them to truly connect? And is there anything that can get a member of Gen Z off their phone? 'When we were scouting for this film, we met the teachers. It was their life's calling to do this work. They told us stories about how they're working with the kids, and how they saw them change before their eyes, how these animals and taking care of them bring out the humanity in an individual,' says Grady. The filmmakers and crew spent nearly the entire year at Pasvik Folk High School, observing every student. When it came to deciding who their main characters would be, Ewing and Grady were looking for students who weren't happy with the status quo and actively wanted change. 'Bjørn, Romain, and Hege were searching for something that they articulated clearly to us the first time we met them. There was a generosity of spirit, a vulnerability, and a tenderness to all three of them,' says Ewing. Each of the three students wanted something different. Bjørn longed to make friends. Romain wanted to get over social anxiety. And Hege wanted to find purpose after the loss of her father. A day at Pasvik isn't easy. The kids tasked with taking care of the dogs get up in the early hours before breakfast to feed and give fresh water to 40 Alaskan Huskies. Then they eat before the whole school meets as a group and goes over the day ahead. They often all watch the news together, which didn't make the cut for the documentary. 'It was fascinating, but we decided it didn't fit. Audiences didn't want to watch the news,' says Grady. The kids have plenty of unstructured time, but there are also big adventures, like skiing with the dogs, dogsledding, and ice skating on the river. One week a month, they'd go on a full expedition where they'd learn to do things like building igloos they'd then sleep in. 'It's like Outward Bound, but on steroids,' says Grady. While folk schools are places where students can get away from the torment of social media and focus on the world outdoors, they are not specifically designed to be a digital detox. No limitations are placed on students using their phones—should they wish to, they can be on them 24/7. But students get their hands dirty at folk schools, often literally. They learn a wide range of practical skills, including making knives, making fires, and knitting clothing. Ewing and Grady noticed something remarkable during their time at Pasvik. 'We noticed that over time, they were less and less on [their phones]. It seemed like IRL finally could compete with the scrolling,' says Ewing. 'Being in the wilderness and being with one another really gave the phone a run for its money.' Though Folktales takes place in Norway, much of the dialogue is spoken in English. Pasvik and other folk schools attract students from around the world, and most Norwegians are fluent in English. 'They're very polite,' says Grady. 'So if they're around a non-native Norwegian speaker, they'll speak in English. One of our characters, Roman, is Dutch, so whenever he's in a scene, English is being spoken. But when Norwegians are with each other, they'll speak Norwegian.' Following a group of teenagers has its own challenges, but there's a Hollywood adage that you should never work with animals, especially ones as demanding as Alaskan Huskies. 'Filming them was actually much easier than filming the Gen Z teenagers. They didn't care what they looked like. They were always happy to see you. Maybe a mount that would be put on them would fall off, but they didn't care. They were having a blast!' says Grady. 'They stand on you and knock you over. They're cool, but they need full attention all the time, which I think is great for these teenagers,' says Ewing. Throughout Folktales, it's awe-inspiring not only to witness the harsh beauty of the Norwegian Arctic but also the growth of Bjørn, Romain, and Hege. From climate change to gun violence to geopolitical instability, there's so much doom and gloom surrounding their generation that it almost feels like a better life is all but impossible. But all three subjects in Folktales grow, throughout the year captured on film, to be more well-rounded people capable of things they never thought possible. Away from the stress of everyday life, they have the opportunity to reach for something greater, and it's a chance they eagerly take. Documentaries have historically captured some of the harsher aspects of society that demand to be revealed to a wider audience. But Folktales is refreshingly optimistic. It feels almost like a spiritual successor to Lauren Greenfield's Social Studies, a fascinating look at the way social media affects teenagers, though one that's far bleaker in tone. But Ewing and Grady didn't necessarily set out with the intention of making a film with a positive outlook. 'We set out for curiosity about what happens in a folk high school,' says Ewing. 'Who goes there and why do they go there? What happens to them? The hope just emerged from the people—and the dogs.'
