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From 1952, Finland's cinematic work White Reindeer is considered one of the remarkable lost classics in the folk horror category. Despite the fact that it received awards at the Cannes Film Festival and the Golden Globe Awards during its time, it was largely overlooked until a stunning 4K remaster began circulating in 2017.

Placed on the remote, frozen fells of the Arctic region, the movie presents an uncanny, completely ethereal macabre story. This territory is sometimes known as the Lapland region, though the indigenous Sámi community view that designation as offensive.

The Chilling Opening and Transformation

In a memorable introduction, it is foretold that a newborn young Sámi female will become a sorceress. She grows into Piriti (portrayed by Mirjami Kuosmanen), a strong-willed female who resents her solitary life as the wife of a traveling reindeer keeper.

She attempts to find relief from a nearby medicine person, but perhaps due to her innate sorcery, his affection ceremony fails and turns her into a vampiric shapeshifter, cursed to track and feed on males in the form of a white reindeer.

Artistic Style and Roots

The actress authored the film with her spouse, filmmaker and cinematographer Erik Blomberg. He combines breathtaking authentic recordings of Sámi traditions on this otherworldly environment with dramatic stylization that recalls silent-era expressionists like F.W. Murnau and Fritz Lang.

Recorded in monochrome and predominantly on actual settings in the wild, The White Reindeer contrasts the dazzling snowy whiteness with pitch-black Gothic scenes, and transitions between them via the liminal half-light of the low Arctic sun.

Ambiguous and Surreal Plot

Although the narrative is simple and the action are plainly laid out, The White Reindeer stays unclear and dreamlike. It’s not clear exactly what time period it’s occurring.

The motivation of the protagonists' decisions can be obscure, and the individuals appear detached, separated in the enormous empty space of their environment. It’s also that uncommon type of horror film that keeps its emphasis directly and empathetically on the creature as its point-of-view character.

Kuosmanen channels the silent film legends in a performance consumed by sexual frustration and a fierce craving she doesn’t fully understand.

Memorable Influence

Despite its short hour-plus duration, The White Reindeer can appear leisurely, thanks to its minimalist storytelling style. But Kuosmanen’s vivid acting, Blomberg’s remarkable visuals, and the film's haunting metaphor for the way a oppressive culture can vilify women's longing will linger in your thoughts for a extended period.