Casablanca – Rabat is getting ready for four evenings of Nordic cinema as Nordic Film Week returns to Cinéma Le 7ème Art from October 26 to 29, bringing films from Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden to local audiences with free admission.
The four countries’ embassies in Morocco are organizing this year’s edition, under the theme “Arctic Horizons,” exploring the people, traditions, and landscapes of the region, while also touching on the challenges facing communities living in the Arctic.
For Maria Fredrika Ornbrant, Ambassador of Sweden to Morocco, these screenings are an opportunity to “showcase this beautiful region and its rich culture, traditions, and its people,” she told Lifestyle magazine.
Ornbrant also pointed to climate change as one of the Arctic’s major challenges, expressing hope that Moroccan audiences would appreciate the films.
A journey through the Arctic
‘Maja’
The program opens on Monday with “Maja,” a Finnish drama directed by Tiina Lym, which will feature French subtitles i.
Set on a remote island in the 19th century, the film follows a young woman who builds a family with a fisherman while facing the hardships of isolated island life.
‘Folktales’
From the solitude of island life, the Nordic Film Week moves north on Tuesday, as “Folktales” takes viewers to a traditional folk high school in northern Norway.
Directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, the documentary follows three teenagers as they learn survival skills, work with sled dogs, and navigate the challenges of growing up far from the distractions of modern life.
This film, however, will screen with English subtitles.
‘Inuk’
On Wednesday, Mike Magidson’s “Inuk” turns to Greenland to tell the story of a boy growing up amid difficult family circumstances.
After social services place him with a foster family in the Arctic, he begins to understand himself and find a sense of belonging.
The film will screen with French subtitles.
‘Historjá – Stitches for Sápmi’
The final evening, Thursday, will feature “Historjá – Stitches for Sápmi,” a Swedish documentary directed by Thomas Jackson.
Also presented with French subtitles, the film follows Sámi artist Britta Marakatt-Labba, whose embroidered artwork tells stories of Sámi history, mythology, and cultural identity. It also examines how climate change threatens reindeer herding and the future of Sámi culture.
Different perspectives on the Nordic region
Together, the four films offer different perspectives on life in the Nordic region, from the realities of isolated communities to the preservation of cultural identity in a changing climate.
For Moroccan audiences curious about life in the region, the festival offers a chance to explore stories shaped by different landscapes, traditions, and experiences, all through cinema.
