Book
Through portraits of women spanning four generations, 'Cent ans' is an 'auto-fiction' in which family stories, dramas, and taboos intertwine and unravel. Herbjørg Wassmo depicts the harsh life and combative nature of these mothers with numerous children – some more wanted than others – in Nordland, Norway's northernmost region.
Music
The Sami, an indigenous community of northern Norway and Scandinavia, have long been repressed by successive governments. It is only since 1988 that their language and culture have been recognised. As a result, in recent years, joik, the traditional music of the Sami, has experienced a renaissance and become increasingly popular. Young Sami singers such as Marja Mortensson and Elle Márjá Eira combine emotionally charged, nostalgic songs with contemporary and electronic music.
Film
Directed in 1957 by Arne Skouen, ‘The Survivor’ is based on real events during the Second World War. Jan Baalsruds is the sole survivor of his ship after an attack by German soldiers on the Norwegian coast. Hunted by the Nazis, he attempts to reach Sweden, a country neutral in the conflict. Throughout his journey, sumptuous landscapes unfold: snow-capped mountains, white plains, fjords and icy cliffs.