‘Stolen’ is a Swedish drama film that offers a outlook on the Sami community. Photo courtesy of Netflix.

Netflix’s new Swedish drama film, Stolen, transports viewers to the frozen landscapes of northern Sweden, where the indigenous Sami people have herded reindeer for centuries.

The film follows the story of Elsa, played by Elin Oskal, from her traumatic childhood experience of witnessing her reindeer being slaughtered to her determined fight for her family and community’s survival.

First-time filmmaker Elle Marja Eira, herself a member of the Sami community, captures the complex challenges, dangers, and tensions faced by the Sami community while also spreading the message of the importance of resilience to indigenous communities everywhere.

Based on a novel of the same name by Ann-Helén Laestadius, the film does a very good job of incorporating the Sami culture, and it offers a look at the Sami people’s fight to preserve their way of life.

Stolen has stunning cinematography, with much of the film showcasing the beautiful snow-covered landscapes of Sweden, giving the movie a documentary feel. 

The film sometimes has slow pacing, with drawn-out scenes that take away from the narrative at times. It also takes the time to explore some political and social issues, which also overshadows the character-driven narrative. 

Oskal and much of the cast deliver powerful performances; however, certain characters lack depth and development. The film also gets too predictable at some points, taking away from the overall impact. 

Despite these flaws, Stolen does a good job of emphasizing the resilience and determination of the Sami community through the journey of Elsa.