In the frozen forests of Finnish Lapland, where temperatures are regularly sub-zero and winter nights last up to twenty-four hours, brothers Aarne and Lasse Aatsinki carry on the generations-old tradition of reindeer herding as the leaders of a local collective that manages the last group of wild reindeer left in the country. Though these rugged modern cowboys navigate the terrain on snowmobiles and ATVs rather than horses, their intricate bond with the land and their herd has allowed them to preserve their way of life in one of the harshest climates imaginable.

This gorgeously lensed documentary from director Jessica Oreck (Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo) quietly follows the Aatsinki brothers through the changing seasons over the course of a year, from helicopter rides over thousands-strong herds of reindeer and panoramic vistas across endless acres of forest to the intimate moments enjoyed between families at the fireside. Share in the hard work, daily rituals and small joys that make up life in the unforgiving landscape above the Arctic Circle.

—Ian Hollander

Directed by

Jessica Oreck