Kautokeino-opprøret / The Kautokeino Rebellion

Nils Gaup: Kautokeino-opprøret / The Kautokeino Rebellion (DK/NO/SE 2007). Mikkel Gaup as Aslak Hetta.

Kautokeinon kapina / Kautokeino-uppröret. 

    DK/NO/SE © 2007 Rubicon Films. Premiere: 2008. 

    D: Nils Gaup. SC: Nils Isak Eira, Nils Gaup, Reidar Jönsson, Pelone Wahl. DP: Philip Øgaard – shot in Super 35 (35 mm) – digital intermediate – print 35 mm – 1:2,35. 

    Starring Anni-Kristiina Juuso (Elen Hetta), Mikael Persbrandt (Ruth), Mikkel Gaup (Aslak Hetta), Asle Mathis Gaup (Mathis Hetta), Michael Nyqvist (Lars Levi Laestadius), Bjørn Sundquist (parson Stockfleth), Peter Andersson (Bucht), Jørgen Langhelle. 

    In Saami, Swedish, and Norwegian. 

    100 min

    Released in Finland by Sandrew, with Finnish / Swedish subtitles by Anitra Paukkula / Joanna Erkkilä.

    Viewed at Kinopalatsi 7, 9 August 2008.

A flat digital intermediate look in the print.

An interesting and original historical epic on the Kautokeino rebellion in ca 1850 (also the subject of the opera Aslak Hetta by Armas Launis).

Merchants oppress Laplanders exploiting their alcohol addiction that has become epidemic, and bereave them of their reindeer as payment.

The great revivalist parson of the Northern Lutheran church, Laestadius, inspires a spiritual awakening in the village, to the dismay of the merchants. The conflict leads into violent protest and capital punishment to rebels.

The true story contains new, good and strong material for an epic film. Unfortunately the direction (also of actors), cinematography, and music are wooden.

The basic content of the story feels true, but there is the question of coarse simplification of the processes of justice and law enforcement. The atavistic, primitive aspects of the Laplanders are ignored. 

Michael Nyqvist gives a strong performance as Laestadius.

This film is fascinating but not perfectly realized.