Ørjan Marakatt Bertelsen's film «Inger Ellen Baal – Eallin» will be shown on Friday 22nd April at the documentary film festival in Volda. In the film, which was made in collaboration with the Centre for Northern Peoples, we meet Inger Ellen Baal, who was deprived of her livelihood as a result of the development. Guolášjohka Power Station in Kåfjord over 50 years ago.
Av Torun O. Wernberg
The Norwegian Documentary Film Festival in Volda is the largest and oldest festival for Norwegian documentary film. The festival is described as a playground for Norwegian filmmakers, and aims to showcase the best of Norwegian documentary film.
"It's both fun and exciting to be part of the festival's official programme. There are people here with many different roles within documentary filmmaking. Naturally, I'm very keen to hear the feedback on the film," says filmmaker Ørjan Marakatt Bertelsen.
The development of Guolášjohka Power Station in Kåfjord over 50 years ago had significant negative consequences for nature and reindeer herding. The Baal family, among others, grazed their reindeer here in the summer. In the film, we get to know Inger Ellen Baal (90), who was born and grew up on the plateau. She talks about how life has been before and after her family was deprived of their grazing land, and thus lost their livelihood as a result of the development.
– Although this is a portrait of Inger Ellen’s life, it also addresses a large theme, such as the consequences of environmental interventions, loss of rights and livelihoods, says Markatt Bertelsen.
Work on the film began in 2019 in collaboration with the Centre for Northern Peoples, and it premiered at the centre in December 2021.
– Considering the budget, it’s almost unbelievable that a film was actually made from this. Many years ago, I already noticed the little lady in the traditional folk costume, who would stand up and state her case at various seminars, including at the Riddu festival. She had an important story to tell, says Markatt Bertelsen.
Bertelsen has been passionate about the project, and in collaboration with the centre, funding was applied for to start the documentary. The Sámi Parliament, the Arts Council Norway, and Kåfjord municipality have provided support.
"It's great that this important story is now being shown to a wider audience in Volda. Through Inger Ellen's story, the public gains insight into the presence and importance of reindeer herding in coastal areas, and the negative consequences of major environmental interventions, of which the Goulas development is an example," says museum director Kjellaug Isaksen at the Centre for Northern Peoples.