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The 1952, Finnish movie White Reindeer represents one of the exceptional overlooked treasures in the folklore horror category. Although it received prizes at the Cannes Film Festival and the Golden Globe Awards during its time, it was largely ignored until a stunning 4K restoration was released in recent years.

Located on the barren, snow-covered hills of Sápmi, the picture presents an spooky, totally supernatural dark fairy tale. This area is occasionally called the Lapland region, though the indigenous Sámi people view that name as pejorative.

A Eerie Prologue and Change

Via a unforgettable prologue, it is foretold that a recently born young Sámi female will transform into a enchantress. She matures into Piriti (played by the actress Mirjami Kuosmanen), a strong-willed woman who rebels against her lonely life as the spouse of a roaming reindeer shepherd.

She seeks solace from a local spiritual healer, but perhaps due to her natural magic, his love ritual fails and transforms her into a vampiric shapeshifter, fated to hunt and consume men in the form of a white reindeer.

Artistic Approach and Inspirations

Kuosmanen authored the screenplay with her husband, filmmaker and director of photography Blomberg. He combines breathtaking real-life footage of Sámi traditions on this lunar landscape with intense stylization that recalls silent-film expressionist filmmakers like F.W. Murnau and Fritz Lang.

Shot in grayscale and mostly on actual settings in the wilderness, White Reindeer contrasts the blinding bright snow with pitch-black Gothic scenes, and moves between them via the liminal twilight of the northern sun.

Ambiguous and Ethereal Narrative

Although the plot is straightforward and the action are plainly laid out, White Reindeer remains unclear and surreal. It’s not clear exactly what time period it’s occurring.

The motivation of the protagonists' decisions can be obscure, and the individuals appear isolated, separated in the enormous negative space of their setting. Additionally that unique category of monster movie that keeps its attention directly and compassionately on the creature as its central figure.

Kuosmanen embodies the silent film legends in a performance wracked with repressed desire and a intense desire she struggles to grasp.

Memorable Impact

Despite its compact 68-minute long running time, The White Reindeer can seem slow, thanks to its minimalist narrative approach. But the lead actress's vivid portrayal, the director's remarkable visuals, and the film's unforgettable allegory for the way a oppressive society can stigmatize female desire will remain in your mind for a long time.