Norwegian Short Films for Children

We have every reason to be proud of this year’s new Norwegian children’s films. We have selected a programme
consisting of films that are fun, serious and represent a variety of genres. The emphasis is on animations, but this year we have also included something as rare as a documentary for children about children: Samson on the Road (Lowri Rees, 2011). This is a rare bird. For one thing, there are very few documentaries for children about children in Norway, except for some episodes at NRK Super. Secondly, it is unique that the Roma people open up their community to outsiders, allow them to see how they think and live. We meet 11-year-old Samson who is a Norwegian Roma. He tells us about the pleasures of travelling, the yearning for his friends and the despair over being chased from one camping site to another. “Gypsies” are still the source of ill will and prejudice among many Norwegians. Samson says that the Roma people are as everyone else – some are noisy and “stupid”, but most of them only wish to be with their families and occupy themselves with travelling, craftsmanship and sales during the summer season. We believe that the documentary Samson on the Road will help create a new understanding for the Roma culture and respect for this ancient nomadic people – who are still a rare minority in Norway. In this way we show that cinema helps move borders and allow unique insights into a multicultural and colourful Norway.

Ingrid Dokka, curator
Advisor, the Norwegian Film Institute