Genre: Documentary
Directed by: Harvard Bustnes
Release: TBD – Premiered at 2026 CPH:DOX, HOT DOCS
Platform: TBD
Rating: 3.5/5
By Bryce Payne
“[Let Our Mountains Live] shifts from a fight to win into a fight just to hold on.”
In a world where natural clean energy is looked at as the end goal, you typically only hear about the positives tied to its usage. Hearing anything negative typically raises an eyebrow of skepticism, yet that’s exactly what Håvard Bustnes’ upcoming documentary LET OUR MOUNTAINS LIVE sets out to explore, and in a way many people tend to overlook with the push towards sustainability. The film isn’t tearing down renewable energy, but asking you to consider the cost that comes with it, especially when that cost isn’t shared equally.
The documentary takes viewers to the central region of Fosen, in Norway, where the Sami people have been herding reindeer for centuries. It’s a core part of their traditions, more than just a job, a way of life deeply tied to the land and passed down through generations. When two wind turbine farms are built on the Fosen Peninsula, it doesn’t just provide clean energy, it directly disrupts their way of life, cutting off winter grazing lands and scattering reindeer in every direction. The Sami people took this to court, winning their Supreme Court case back in 2021. Even after that victory though, nothing changed. Instead of honoring the ruling, the proprietors leaned on loopholes to delay any real accountability. This is where the documentary begins to focus, following several Sami herders as they fight for a decision that was already granted, turning what should’ve been resolution into an exhausting, ongoing battle.
In LET OUR MOUNTAINS LIVE the audience gets a glimpse into their culture, how vital these grazing lands are, and the toll renewable energy has taken. The film is grounded in reality without over-explaining, letting their words carry the weight. We follow the Sami as they organize protests and attend court dates, sticking to every legal avenue in the hopes that someone, anyone, will listen. There’s a frustration that steadily builds, especially as despair begins to creep in. The realization sets in that even though they are in the right, delays can stretch indefinitely, loopholes can keep appearing, and the process can be dragged out further, putting their way of life at even greater risk. It shifts from a fight to win into a fight just to hold on.
One of the more compelling aspects is the activism and sense of community. Herders travel from far and wide to stand together, presenting a unified front against something far larger than any one individual. There’s a strength in that unity that feels necessary. Younger generations are also seen stepping in, taking action in their own ways, reinforcing how deeply rooted this culture is and how determined they are to protect it. It’s not about preserving something distant, it’s about ensuring it continues forward.
While it would have been nice to see more of the Sami life to better understand their day-to-day connection with the herds, what’s shown is still effective. Hearing them speak, along with the glimpses we get, is enough to show how strong that bond is. There’s a quiet weight to those moments that linger, even as the film returns to legal battles and demonstrations. With clean energy so often framed as purely positive, it’s genuinely compelling to see how it can also impact cultures and land in harmful ways. LET OUR MOUNTAINS LIVE is a documentary that holds your attention, while pushing you to think more critically about what progress really means and who might be left behind in the process.
