Stolen (Stöld) is a Swedish thriller drama film, based on the novel of the same name by Ann-Helén Laestadius. It is a Kolibri Production and directed by Elle Márjá Eira. The screenplay has been adapted by Peter Birro. The film has a runtime of about 1 hour and 47 minutes.
The cast of the film includes Elin Oskal as Elsa, Martin Wallström as Robert, Lars-Ánte Wasara as Mattias, Ida Persson Labba as Anna-Stina, Pávva Pittja as Lasse, Magnus Kuhmunen as Nils-Johan, Ingahilda Tapio, Simon Marainen, Niilá Omma, Ánne Lájlá Westerfjell Kalstad and others.
Stolen (Stöld) is inspired by real events, and portrays a young woman from Sweden’s Indigenous Sámi community who goes on a quest to seek justice and settle a personal vendetta against an animal killer in this emotional drama.
Stolen Review
The film depicts a young woman’s fight to protect her native heritage in a society marked by increasing xenophobia, the endangerment of reindeer herding due to climate change, and a rising trend of youth suicide stemming from collective despair. However, the film also highlights the conflicts that emerge when contemporary ideals clash with a traditional culture defined by entrenched patriarchal norms.
Stolen opens on a brutal note, showing a man shooting a reindeer belonging to the Sámi community. Soon after we meet Elsa and her family who are involved in reindeer herding occupations. However, with the changing times and climate, their community is slowly decreasing and facing imminent cultural loss. Elsa wants to take their cultural legacy forward and voluntarily helps her family in taking take of the reindeer herds. As a first step, she also gets a calf of her own, with the intention of adding more eventually. Sadly, her reindeer calf becomes the target of the killer and she witnesses it all first-hand.
Traumatised by what she had seen and most importantly, knowing the killer as well – she feels scared for her own life. Since it’s illegal to kill reindeer, Elsa’s father takes her to the police station to report but she sees the killer there, having a friendly chat with other officers.
As the traumatising death flashes again in front of her eyes, Elsa is unable to say anything and the Police also dismiss the case as ‘stolen’ – since they can’t prove who killed and are not bothered to find as well. Just like that 10 years pass away and Elsa regrets not outing the person as the killings continue until, her community comes to the verge of losing their homeland and their occupation completely.
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While we have generally seen thriller films around personal vendetta, taking revenge from a known enemy etc. It’s unique to see a drama thriller around animal abuse and how every life is significant enough. Somehow, it’s even more barbarous to see an innocent animal being slaughtered proudly, over communal animosity. More importantly, it highlights the long-term issues faced by the indigenous people, regardless of the geographical aspect and in this case – the Sámi community.
It creatively shows how the Sámi people continue to struggle with the long-lasting effects of losing their language and culture due to past generations being sent to missionary and state boarding schools. How they faced/still facing challenges from laws that have denied them rights to their beliefs, language, land, and traditional ways of life.
In addition, they are currently dealing with threats to their culture and environment, such as oil drilling, mining, dam construction, deforestation, climate change, military activities, tourism, and commercial projects becoming mandatory. Along with how deeply rooted patriarchal structures affect a woman’s participation/role in daily activities and decision-making.
In terms of storytelling, the snow-clad landscape visuals are quite appealing to watch. The choice of using red colour in clothing or the crime scene, makes it pop against the white background and creates more impact. Overall, it’s a meaningful film to watch with an inspiring lead portrayal by Elin Oskal, who also belongs to the Sámi, having grown up in Saltdal, Nordland. On the other hand, Martin Wallström as Robert, the deceiving killer is infuriating to watch, which means he does an excellent job in pulling off the antagonist character.
Rating: 3/5
Stolen is available to watch on Netflix.
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