Brace Your Heart
Directed by
2026
© Nordisk Film Production AB
"Brace your heart" is a traditional Sámi maxim said to young reindeer herders by the elder ones to prepare them for the harsh natural environment of the tundra. When her father dies unexpectedly, 20-year-old Ejva is suddenly completely on her own. She inherits his large herd, and feels duty-bound to take on the responsibility. That means she now has to prove herself in a male-dominated world with deeply entrenched hierarchies. Ejva's perpetually reddened cheeks testify to the frosty-cold working conditions, as well as the energy of a young woman who wants to sustain the traditions of her people but, at the same time, rebels against the archaic and sexist structures. (Festival information, Luebeck 2026)