Amanda Kernell’s “Sami Blood” has secured North American distribution prior to its U.S. premiere at Sundance on January 20. Synergetic Distribution snagged the rights to the coming-of-age story and is planning a U.S. release in May, Variety reports.
“The film is about a young girl named Elle Marja, who is 14 and soon to take over the traditional reindeer herding in her family,” writer-director Kernell told Women and Hollywood in a soon-to-be-published interview. “Elle dreams of another life, and after being exposed to racist practices at school against the Sami people, she finds it unbearable to remain in her current situation. She decides to escape and pass herself off as Swedish, and makes the difficult decision of breaking all ties with her family and the culture she comes from.”
The critically acclaimed film made its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival last year.
“It’s rare to come across a movie that is as honest and as universally loved as ‘Sami Blood,’ and I think this movie, though set in a specific time and place, speaks to anyone that has questioned their history or identity, or has felt out of place,” says Anatol Chavez, Synergetic Distribution’s head of acquisitions. “We’re excited to be able to share the film with U.S. audiences.”
“I hope people watching the film think about where they belong, blood ties and heritage, shame, and the radical decisions people take in their lives,” Kernell explained to us.
“Sami Blood” was adapted from an award-winning short film that also screened at Sundance.
