Amanda Kernell's 'Brace Your Heart': Forgiveness in the Heart of Sámi Survival

Reinventing Forgiveness in the Arctic

When I first heard about Amanda Kernell's latest film, Brace Your Heart, I wasn't expecting a story about trauma, reindeer herding, or the quiet resilience of Sámi culture. But that's exactly what she gives us—a meditation on how survival is not just physical but emotional, and how forgiveness isn't a luxury—it's an act of defiance against a world that demands we harden our hearts.

“What can be forgiven? And what if you live in a place where everything has to be, because it can be a matter of survival?”

This is the question Kernell asks her audience, and her protagonist Ejva, a young woman thrust into the role of reindeer herder after her father's death. What strikes me about the film is how it doesn't romanticize hardship—it shows it as the brutal, unrelenting reality that many communities face, especially those on the margins.

The Weight of Generational Trauma

Kernell's background in Sámi culture informs every frame. As someone who has worked on films like Sámi Blood, she brings an authentic voice to the portrayal of her community. The film isn't just about Ejva's journey—it's about the collective trauma that binds her family, her people, and even her country.

“It's not just some problem I 'made up' for my character — it's something I see in real life,” she says. And that's where the film's power lies: It doesn't pretend that forgiveness comes easy. It demands struggle, and sometimes, it's a choice made in the aftermath of violence.

Survival, Not Just Survival

The setting itself becomes a character. The film takes place in a vast, icy landscape where reindeer herding is not just a profession but a way of life that requires constant vigilance and sacrifice. As Kernell explains, "In reindeer herding, which most of my family on my father's side does, you have to work together. It's a matter of life and death. There's no phone coverage, the ice is thin and the weather changes all the time."

And yet, in these harsh conditions, Ejva refuses to harden her heart—something that feels like a rebellion against the world's tendency to demand resilience through stoicism rather than compassion.

A New Language for Healing

One of the most compelling aspects of the film is its exploration of how we talk about trauma. Kernell notes, “In psychology, they say that words can free you. There might be a point to confrontation. When you talk about what you fear the most, something might change inside of you. Your nightmare can go away.”

She's not just talking about therapy—she's proposing language as an act of liberation. For Ejva and her people, speaking the truth about their pain may be the only way to move forward. It's a powerful idea that resonates far beyond the film's Arctic setting.

The Cost of Being Human

Kernell doesn't shy away from the human cost of survival. As she says, “There are many suicides in this world, but there are also people who are surviving and finding the light on the other side.” And that's what Brace Your Heart is really about: not just surviving, but finding hope amid chaos.

The film's cinematography captures this tension beautifully. From the wide-open skies to the quiet moments of connection between Ejva and Heaika, we see a world that demands both strength and vulnerability. It's a balance that mirrors our own struggles with forgiveness, identity, and community.

A Director's Deep Dive into Identity

What's fascinating about Kernell is how she brings her own experiences to the screen. She speaks of the time when she was hit by a severe concussion while making her second feature film, Charter, and how it forced her to confront what it means to lose your ability to work—and by extension, your sense of self.

“Being a reindeer herder who can't work properly must be like being a director who can't see. Fortunately, I can do it again,” she says. It's a poignant reminder that identity isn't just about what we do—it's about who we are, even when we're stripped of our roles.

Forgiveness as a Cultural Act

In many ways, Brace Your Heart is a film about the cultural responsibility that comes with forgiveness. In communities like those of the Sámi, where interdependence is key, to forgive means to rebuild—not just relationships but entire systems of care.

“You need to harden your heart in order to survive. Maybe that's how you get through difficult things, traumas and death—and a life that's very close to death. But it's not the path to love,” Kernell reflects.

This distinction between survival and love is crucial. It's a call for empathy in a world that often equates toughness with strength. In her latest film, Kernell asks us to consider: what does it mean to truly live?

The Power of Storytelling

Finally, what I admire most about Kernell's approach is how she uses storytelling not just to entertain but to heal. She wants audiences to see that stories like Ejva's matter—not because they're rare, but because they reflect truths we all carry within us.

“This is very nerdy, but in psychology, they say that words can free you,” she says with a smile that cuts through the gravity of her subject. “It makes me hopeful.”

In Brace Your Heart, Kernell crafts not just a film, but an invitation to feel, reflect, and ultimately, forgive. It's a powerful message—and one that deserves to be seen.