In the NRK documentary Min helt spesielle arv (My Very Special Heritage), filmmakers Richard K. Johansen and Tor Einstabland shine a spotlight on a severely neglected minority and a history and culture that are in danger of disappearing. The story of the Norwegian Travellers is both dark and heartbreaking, but also engaging and moving – and much closer to home than many people seem to think.
Imagine that you take your whole family and pack everything you own into a wagon, and get ready to leave. Then the local sheriff comes and shoots your horse without warning. You and your family are placed in an internment camp to learn how to live like «real» Norwegians. If you try to leave, your children will be taken away from you. This can't be Norway, you might think? If so, it must have been a very long time ago?
«The Svanviken work colony in Nordmøre was closed in 1989. To this day, travelers are denied entry to Norwegian campsites,» says photographer Richard K. Johansen indignantly. He himself is of Traveller descent and has long felt a need to prevent the history and culture of Travellers from disappearing. Together with director Tor Einstabland, he has made a powerful short documentary about four Travellers who, through the dissemination of art and culture, keep alive the fire around which the stories of this minority are shared.
«Most people know a traveler. They just don't know it themselves.»
Richard K. Johansen
«As a society, we cannot afford to let this disappear,» says Johansen. «Without diversity, Norway will become a much poorer country. Not many people know or remember that there was talk of offering a bounty on us Tatars here in the Nordic countries. Seriously. That's how awful it was. But we really wanted to create a positive document and follow the creative vein of the Travellers. Art, crafts, song, music, and storytelling traditions – that is also our history.»
Director Tor Einstabland agrees: «I myself had no connection to the history of the Travellers when we started talking about this project. But I was very surprised at how incredibly harsh it was. At the same time, we decided to show art with art. That's why we've placed great emphasis on the visual expression and mood of the film, to showcase the culture in a way that the Travellers would recognize. Judging by the feedback, we've succeeded in doing that. Many people write to us to thank us and say they are proud of their background and culture – something they may never have said to anyone before.»
«When you were of gypsy descent, you were despised by everyone. You were blamed for all the crap that existed.»
Artist Ivan Storm Juliussen
In the documentary, we meet singers Elias Akselsen and Veronika Akselsen, screenwriter and actress Sara Wilhelmsen, and artist Ivan Storm Juliussen. The film was first shown on NRK1 on November 27 and is available for streaming here: https://tv.nrk.no/se?v=KOID75002722
The film was produced with support from the Arts Council Norway.
