Ovllá libretto in English

Etusivu › Ovllá libretto in English

Libretto in English

Libretto:

Juho-Sire/Siri Broch Johansen

Used only by permission.

–

Ovlá is skillful

♪

Ovlá is a big boy

Ovlá is helpful

–

Do you just want
concert tickets –

or do you also want
tickets for the camping area?

What do you want?
Do you want?

Do you want to want?
Do you wish to wish?

What?
I don’t understand.

Boys! Can someone translate?
I don’t understand shit.

Women! Women! Women!
Women! Women! Women!

Don’t you understand?
Really?

That you don’t understand?
Do you understand?

You do understand?
Isn’t that right?

Isn’t that right?

What?

I speak Swedish,
if you don’t speak Finnish.

Can you say that in Swedish?

Miksi piksi polkatriksi?

What? God damn it, boys,
they won’t let us in.

It’s a hell of a job
trying to figure things out.

Look, we have money!
How much do you want?

How much does it cost for four?

Well, do you just want
concert tickets, –

or do you also want tickets
for the camping area?

We are definitely staying the night.
Concerts, camping spot, –

the works.

Ooh-ah the whole night long!

–

Oh right, that’s what everyone says.

But I see.

I know.

I understand.

Lost sheep, that’s what they are.
The ones we’re here for.

Here they can lick their wounds.

Tend to their roots.

–

I have heard about
a festival In Gárasavvon.

A festival in Gárasavvon! What?

Apparently a lot of people from all over
the northern regions are coming.

Artists from around the globe.

This weekend!

It’s going to be packed with women!

Women!

Women?

Women!

There might be a lot of Sámi.

Sámi?
Didn’t you say women?

Sámi women!

Have you heard what they say
about Sámi women?

Sámi women,
Sámi women!

–

Goddammit, there is gonna be
pussy, booze and nicotine!

The vitamins of schoolboys!

Pussy, booze and nicotine!
That’s school boy vitamin!

♪

–

Muzet muzet muzet
(a dark-featured reindeer)

I am muzet.

Not muzetsággi.

You’re not muzetsággi.

Why?

A Finn’s kisses are not that sweet.

A Finn’s hands are not that soft.

A Finn’s body isn’t that agile.

Hold me.

Embrace me.

Won’t you be there?

Yes, I am.

I am.

Yes, I am.

I am.

And you are muzet.

I am.

Yes, I am.

And you are light-featured.

–

Hey Oula, where are you?

Are you with a woman?

We don’t want to disturb,
but are you there?

I saw him with that
pretty Sámi woman.

The dark-haired one.

Ho hey! Sámi women!

Sámi women!

Don’t come in! I am here!

No no no!
We won’t come in!

–

Get the hell out of here already,
nothing to see here!

Go find yourselves some women,
damn drunks!

Sámi woman, of course!

A Sámi woman, for fuck’s sake!

Sámi women!

–

I guess you grew up
in the Sámi territory?

Perhaps in the Teno valley,
if I’m hearing correctly?

That’s right, the Teno valley.
Grew up there, fishing salmon.

And you?
Are you from Máze, or?

♪

I am from Kautokeino.
Grew up in Biltaveadji.

Right by the river, me as well.

We were also fishing.
But I don’t know anymore –

what fish they might have
in the future, you know.

Why so?

They’re planning to dam our river.

Where?

Around Alta.
Sautso is the name of the place.

Oh no.

You probably haven’t been
following very closely –

what is happening on the
Norwegian side of Sápmi?

No, I really haven’t.

What’s happening on the Finnish side then?

I live in Kiruna.
I work in a mine.

I handle the iron ore
for steel factories.

I drive a Kiruna Truck!

What is happening on the
Swedish side of Sápmi then?

I haven’t been following so closely.

But you found your way here,
to Davvi šuvvá?

It wasn’t me, but my friends.

I just tagged along.

You just tagged along! Ha ha!

I thought you’d be more ČSV!
(the symbol of Sámi activism)

What’s that?

Oh my god!

I’m just trying to survive.

ČSV ČSV ČSV ČSV…

Show Sáminess!
Show Sámi spirit!

Gather Sámi for victory!

Show Sámi strength!
Gather a Sámi crowd! Yeah!

Hide under the bed! ČSV!

ČSV! ČSV!

Tell me Kauko, is it Sámi he speaks?

Well, it’s definitely not Finnish…

How does he know to speak it?

Indeed, how can he speak it?

How the hell does he know it?

–

Hey, Oula, answer this:

Are you a Sámi?

Am I a Sámi? Am I a Sámi?

Damn it, I’ll show you!

But why do you know Sámi?

I have not spoken any Sámi.

Yes you have, we all heard you!

I also heard!

We all heard you speak Sámi!

–

The youth today cannot do anything.

They cannot slaughter.
They cannot cut hay.

They cannot fish.
They cannot pole a riverboat.

They are just useless.

When I was growing up,
it was not so easy.

Then we worked outside all day long.

Went indoors only to eat.

Now they just sit there
lazying around at school.

Learning useless stuff.

Things that nobody
will ever need.

Then they come home –

as incompetent fools.

Shut up, you old bastard!

Why, why?

Why did I end up with
such a clumsy son?

–

I have heard that here
they like Finns

From the Republic of Finland

I have heard
that we work hard

We’re strong and skilful

I have heard that they pay well and
organise accommodation as well

I’ve heard you can get a licence
for just about any machine here

Lectrahaul,
Scania

Excavator,
power drill

And a Kiruna Truck!

Yes, I will drive a Kiruna Truck!

Kiruna, Kiruna,
Kiruna-truck!

I have heard that here one can dig
and make a racket

Here you’re allowed to be a Finn
and live like a Swede

Here you can speak Finnish
and live in a Swedish way

I have heard
that here I am the future

Life is here

There’s food here,
and a roof over your head

There’s work here
for centuries to come

Longer than my
life’s path will last

Finnish men, Finns,

will find a job and a life
and Swedish women

And Kiruna, Kiruna,
Kiruna is the place

I have heard that here one can dig
and make a racket

Here you’re allowed to be a Finn
and live like a Swede

Here you can speak Finnish
and live in a Swedish way

I have heard
that here I am the future

Life is here

There’s food here,
and a roof over your head

There’s work here
for centuries to come

Longer than my
life’s path will last

Finnish men, Finns,

will find a job and a life
and Swedish women

And Giron, Giron,
Giron is the place

–

You are also one of us

You belong to our group

You are not a Finn

You have left us,
Sámi as you are

You are Sámi

Forever

Even if you try to flee

Even if you try to run off

You are Sámi

Now and forever

Shut up!

Now and forever

♪

I probably shouldn’t say it like this

But it would be very good
to be close to you now

Your arms around me,
in your embrace

I probably shouldn’t be
so completely direct

But I wouldn’t mind at all

if you would drop by
or if you would stay

I probably shouldn’t be
this straightforward

But that’s just how it is

Life is simply better
when I’m close to you

Ovlá, may I call you my love?

Ovlá, when you are with me,
you are my Ovlá

So warm

Ovlá, hold me, hold me tight

Don’t go anywhere

Could you, my Ovlá

Stay, stay with me

I probably should not say this

But I had to come to you
right now

I just needed to be close to your arms

I probably should not say this
quite so directly

But I wouldn’t mind at all

if you would drop by
or if you would stay

I probably shouldn’t be
so straightforward

But that’s just how it is

Life is at its best
when I’m close to you

Anna

Ovlá

May I call you my love?

Anna

Ovlá

When you are by my side,
you are just my Anna/Ovlá

So warm,
my Anna/Ovlá

I hold you in my arms

Dear Ánná, don’t ever go away

Could you, my Anna/Ovlá

Stay, stay with me

–

Well, finally I get to meet
the famous Ovlá!

World-famous Ovlá!

He thinks I talk about you a lot.

She is the most precious thing I have.

You must take good care of her,
or you’ll have to deal with me!

Ha ha, father stands on the porch with
a shotgun if men approach the house!

But when you came,
he put the shotgun away.

Not just anyone is allowed
into the kitchen –

let alone gets coffee
in this house.

Yes, you are a real river Sámi
from Teno valley.

If I understand correctly?

Yes, I am from there.
A Finn.

I grew up in Outakoski –

and Utsjoki and Inari
and Ivalo.

In Vuovdaguoika and Ohcejohka
and Anár and Avvil?

Outakoski, Utsjoki,
Inari, Ivalo.

Vuovdaguoika.

Outakoski! Utsjoki!

Rovisuvanto!
Akukoski! Talvadas!

Anár. Avvil.
Ohcejohka.

Finnish villages in the
republic of Finland!

Well, what is this village
called then, Ovllá?

Oh? But…?

What is the name of
this little village?

Wonder what it is?

But this is Norway!

This is Biltaveaddji
and until now –

not a single fool
has come up –

with any Norwegian name for it.

No one has tried to lie about
what the real name of this place is.

And where are you from again?

The Teno valley.

You come from the
Deatnu river valley?

And then some
Finnish rascals appeared –

and came up with
Finnish-like names.

But are these the real names?

They are not!

Father, stop it!
Don’t be like that.

–

Father!

Explain the truth?

This young man,
your dear Ovlá…

This fine young Sámi man
must begin to unlearn –

all the colonial bullshit that’s been
forcefully shoved down his throat!

I was the most skilled soldier
in our group.

I am ready to defend Finland
with my life.

Oh, is that why you work in Sweden
and your girlfriend lives in Norway?

It’s not like that at all.

Who lives in Sápmi
in these borderless areas –

that the colonial powers…

Father, stop it!
Let Ovlá be!

Well, Ánná likes you exactly
as you are whether you are…

Well, whose son are you then?

Riitta Rinkinen’s son.

Oh. Rinkinen is your father then?
From the family of Alla-Máhtte?

And your mother, she must
belong to the Guhttors?

Guhttor one, two or three?

How should I know?

You have to find out whether
the two of you are related.

She is probably Guhttor one.

Your mother came from Karasjok
and then moved to the Finnish side.

Got married to Rihttá-Ovllá.
Well, your grandfather.

I wonder how they are doing,
Rihttá and Juhán?

How come you know Sámi
if you are a Finn?

Father! Stop it!

Alright. You are very welcome
with the two of us.

As long as Anna wants you.

No matter what family you
belong to or how it goes –

with your parents.

A warmhearted
welcome to you.

Make yourself at home.

The door is open.

Well…

He’s very handsome.

Strong as well.

Handy.

But at the same time…

Father, don’t even try!

I want only him.

–

The youth today cannot do anything.

They cannot slaughter.
They cannot cut hay.

They cannot fish.
They cannot pole a riverboat.

They are just useless.

Incompetent, of no use.

–

Feel how it kicks!

Oh! Now this is
dad’s football player!

Or maybe mom’s super-skier?

But that’s just how it is, life is
at its best when you are near.

Anna.

Ovlá.

May I call you my love?

Anna.

Ovlá.

When you are with me,
you are just

My Anna.

My Ovlá.

How warm you are, my Anna/Ovlá.

Stay, stay with me.

–

I wonder when
your parents will come.

Surely they will now, finally.

But listen, Ovlá!

If my mother was still alive, then…

Yes, she would be your mother, –

which would be totally different.

–

At least we agree
on one thing, right?

What?

About the language.
We will speak Sámi to the child.

But…?

They’ll learn Norwegian
in any case.

Almost everyone here in Áltá
mainly speaks Norwegian

It will be hard to maintain
the language.

We must be strong.

Is this really wise?

Wise?

What do you mean?

No, I just…

We are speaking Sámi!

Exactly.

The child will hear more than
enough Sámi as it is.

We shouldn’t…

What shouldn’t we?

Ruin the child with that
kitchen table language?

I wonder how it will go –

if they can’t speak
Norwegian at school?

It’s just terrible!

A horrible thing to do
to a child!

–

But, Ovlá, it won’t be like that.

Things aren’t like that anymore.

Maybe not in Kautokeino.
But here in Alta!

Anna, you’re going to
create an outcast!

They will be left –

totally –

alone.

Nobody –

will even talk to them!

Even the teachers will trample –

on our child
and remind them –

every day –

how fucking
stupid they are.

They will become a freak.

A loner who…

–

Our child will go to
a Sámi class.

No way!
That will not happen!

That there will be a Sámi class
in the school?

That will happen.

It will never happen –

that I’d throw my child
to the wolves like that.

Never! Never!

–

Well, what are you going to do?
Speak Norwegian to our child?

Well, what if I might?

But, for heaven’s sake, –

you cannot even speak
Norwegian properly!

My child will not become
someone like…

Someone like…

Someone like you?

–

♪

–

Finland, behold,
thy daylight now is dawning

The threat of night
has now been driven away

The skylark calls across
the light of morning

The blue of heaven
lets it have its way

And now the day
the powers of night is scorning:

Thy daylight dawns,
O Finland of ours!

–

Here is your new schoolmate, –

Piera Pokkanen!

I trust you are going to –

welcome him to the class.

And that you are good classmates.

And you, Rinkinen, since you
also live in the dormitory:

You can surely see to it –

that Pokkanen feels –

welcome here with us.

Here.

Pierijä? (In English: “farter”)

Pie! Ri! Jä!

Pie! Ri! Jä!
Pie! Ri! Jä!

Pierijä, pierijä…

Stop this bullying right now!

I’ll tell you one thing, so that
you’ll always remember:

I do not hang out
with the Sámi.

–

♪

Is she asleep?

Yes. She just uses me
as a pacifier.

Wait a second…

Go on and take her.

Nuku nuku, nurmilintu

Väsy väsy, västäräkki

–

Our own little princess.

You are so sweet!

You have such pretty ears,

Even fingernails
so adorable.

I have never seen
something like this before.

No, father has never seen
such a fine little girl.

Neither has mum seen –

such a fine little girl.

And her ears as well as fingernails
are so adorable.

Yes. You will speak to her whatever
language you choose, and so will I.

What use is Finnish to her
here in Alta?

Well, what use is Sámi to her
here in Alta?

I am being serious.

What use is Sámi to her
here in Alta?

Everyone here speaks Norwegian.

In Guovdageaidnu we seem
quite ordinary.

While in Alta, we seem…

Perhaps we should move.

What? Move?

Do you honestly have anything
to keep you here?

And then, when her school starts, –

if they do not get a Sámi class
here after all…

A thing you were so sure about
six months ago.

And your parents, of whom
I haven’t seen even a glimpse?

What if you sent them
even a tiny sign –

so they know you’re alive?

And they would also learn
that they have a new descendant?

Does he not remember anything?
Does he never miss anything?

What has happened to him
that made him so stubborn?

Does he not remember anything?
Does he never miss anything?

Do I even know my own husband?
What is it that he does not say?

Does he not remember anything?
Does he never miss anything?

I wonder if he even knows himself?
What has he hidden deep inside?

Does he not remember anything?
Does he not remember anything?

Does he not remember anything?

–

Sometimes you start to think…

Perhaps there wasn’t
that much to remember…

A person is no more one thing
than the other, but…

You just are what you are.

Is it so important?

I am right here after all!

She just talks and talks.

Problems just get bigger
with her talking.

Couldn’t she just…

Why must she…

Talking never did any good.

It is just pointless.

Could we not just have a laugh?

Life only lasts for a short while.

One tiny little moment.

What difference does it make
what one does?

When at the end you just die?

What difference does it make
what one does?

When at the end you just die?

When

At the end

When

At the end

When

You…

–

Well, how was your night here?

Do you like our warm bed?

Our clean bedsheets?

Our warm bedroom?

Our warm water
straight from the tap?

Our indoor toilet?

Did dreams find you,
little Sámi child?

What are you saying?

How was your night here?
Did you sleep well?

What is she saying?

How was your night here?
Did you sleep well?

–

I am a Finn.

You are a Finn.

We live in the Republic of Finland.

Finland has suffered
from the burden of colonialism –

for centuries.

The Swedes starved us –

almost to death.

But we are Finns and we do not
give up for any reason.

No other nation –

is as strong as the Finns of Finland.

No other nation has the kind of grit
as the Finns do.

No other nation can get by
with as little as the Finns can.

Certainly not!
Certainly not!

Well, look here now.

What has Rinkinen written today?

I am a dumb, dumb Sámi.

I cannot do anything.

My parents cannot do anything.

Thus I can’t do anything myself.

I was born poor.
Poor I am still.

And if I don’t learn quickly –

how to read and write Finnish, –

I shall be poor for all my life –

and die poor, too.

I was born poor.
Poor I am still.

And if I don’t learn quickly –

how to read and write Finnish, –

I shall be poor for all my life –

and die poor, too.

–

You know.
This moving thing.

Yes. It will happen.

When Anna has decided
what she wants.

And she has been obsessing over it
for seven years now.

Could you not imagine living here?

I don’t have work here.

Is that it?

We can always find work for you.

You know it will happen –

with you or without you.

Some day…

–

It’s none of my business really…

But how would you feel
if Elle Sárá grew up, –

went out into the world
and never came back here?

–

Then I would have understood
that I had done –

something terribly wrong
while she was growing up.

I also lived in a boarding school.

We were poor –

and I had many
young siblings.

–

I did get to go home
every weekend.

But…

You know.

One doesn’t talk
about such things.

You are like me
when I was young.

Anna had a fantastic mother.

–

♪

After she passed away, –

I had to fill her shoes.

I became someone else.

For Anna’s sake.

A person cannot just –

decide to become
someone else.

One can decide what one wants
to try to achieve.

What one wants to strive toward.

One can decide to give up –

or keep trying.

One can decide
to stop forgetting.

One can decide
to start to remember.

–

When I was your age I was setting
ptarmigan snares in my sleep!

When I was your age
I was fishing alone with a drift net.

When I was your age I chopped
firewood for the whole winter myself!

–

The youth today cannot do anything.

They cannot slaughter.
They cannot cut hay.

They cannot fish.
They cannot pole a riverboat.

–

They are completely incompetent.

I never got to live with you.

Ovlá is a big brother

Ovlá is skilful

Ovlá is efficient

Ovlá is careful

Ovlá is handy

Ovlá is a language talent

–

♪

Ovlá is skillful

Ovlá is a big boy

Ovlá is helpful

–

Here everyone must be the same.

Here everyone must talk the same way.

Here everyone is clean.

Wash the clothes and the body –

and cut the hair.

Eat everything that is put on the plate.

Be obedient, tidy, and good.

But I don’t understand
what you’re saying.

Here everyone must be the same.

Here everyone must talk the same way.

Here everyone is clean.

Wash the clothes and the body –

and cut the hair.

Eat everything that is put on the plate.

Be obedient, tidy, and good.

But I don’t understand
what you’re saying.

Here everyone must be the same.

Here everyone must talk the same way.

Here everyone is clean.

Wash the clothes and the body –

and cut the hair.

Eat everything that is put on the plate.

Be obedient, tidy, and good.

We wake up when the alarm rings
we do our tasks on time

We are helpful and kind

When the lights go out,
we are already under the blankets

Then we close our eyes and
in the name of our heavenly father

We welcome the night

Content in our safe haven

What is she saying?

What is she saying? What is she saying?
What is she saying?

We wake up when the alarm rings
we do our tasks on time

We are helpful and kind

When the lights go out,
we are already under the blankets

Then we close our eyes and
in the name of our heavenly father

We welcome the night

Content in our safe haven

–

You are not the one leaving
but decide to stay.

I cannot go.
I don’t decide to stay.

It’s not that
I don’t love you anymore.

–

What is this life?

It’s all in vain.

What is life?

A person is born, they live.

They die.

Why try?

Why bother?

Why run around?

What is the meaning
of everything?

–

I can’t do it!
Believe me!

I cannot!
Accept it!

I can’t keep going!
See it!

I can’t! I can’t!
I can’t!

–

Mother!

Mother!
It is me, Ovlá!

–

You are not Ovlá.

My Ovlá is not a Finn.

I am not a Finn.

I am Ovlá.

–

You took your time.

This is my Ovlá,
my Ovlá

Now I am joiking for my own Ovlá

Went out into the world

but remembered his roots

♪

He is Ovlá

My Ovlá

My own Ovlá

Ovlá from the banks
of the Deatnu river.

–