BIRU UNJÁRGA

Norway, Sweden, Finland

Elvira, a confident Sámi teenager, firmly believes that her mother conceived her at a Danish fertility clinic. She often daydreams about her father, envisioning him as a charismatic movie star. However, her world is turned upside down when her real biological father unexpectedly steps into her life. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Norway’s northernmost region, this family film features quirky dialogues, a captivating female protagonist, and an unforgettable male cameo.

Written & directed by: Egil Pedersen
Produced by: Mathis Ståle Mathisen, Pål Røed, Aleksander Olai Korsnes
Cinematography: Anna Myking
Editing: Thomas Grotmol, Toril Strøm, Geir Ørnholt
Production Design: Emma Skoog
Costume Design: Nina Erdahl
Make-Up & Hair: Pia Mikkonen
Original Score: Remi Semshaug Langseth, Mathis Ståle Mathisen
Sound: Johannes Dekko
Visual Effects: Christian Vårdal, Kjetil Haugen, Gonzalo Moure
Animation: Tor Kirstian Liseth, Kristoffer Stokkerud
Casting: Nina Erdahl
Cast: Sarah Olaussen Eira (Elvira)

Statement of the director:
The film MY FATHERS’ DAUGHTER continues my satirical exploration of identity, of which I previously achieved success within the short film INDIGENOUS POLICE. As a child, teenager, and young adult, I struggled with my Sámi identity (the Sámi are indigenous peoples in northern areas of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia). I didn’t feel fully accepted as Sámi among other Sámi people, and my Sámi appearance and identity were sometimes burdensome when interacting with Norwegians. However, once I finally accepted that I was good enough to be both a Sámi and a Sámi filmmaker, I embarked on a long process to understand what kind of Sámi filmmaker I wanted to become.
My firsthand experience of the complexities of having a minority identity, combined with my sense of humour, led me to become a Sámi satirist. I aim to tell stories about minority identity in ways that audiences haven’t seen before. Through humour, I want to portray the absurdities of being a minority. Much of what I share is inspired by my own experiences and real-life events I’ve heard from others.
In MY FATHERS’ DAUGHTER I return to my childhood paradise and the village where my mother grew up. Unjárga/Nesseby is a small Sámi coastal community in northeastern Norway, characterised by its unique environment and natural beauty, which make the story both personal and distinctive.

Production:
Rein Film
https://www.reinfilm.no