Amanda Kernell’s “Brace Your Heart” follows Ejva, a 20-year-old Sámi reindeer herder who unexpectedly takes over her family’s business after her father’s death. The film explores the physical and economic hardships of her work, alongside gender inequality, cultural identity and the tension between preserving tradition and embracing modern life.

Elli Sara Valkeapää, herself a reindeer herder, gives a restrained performance marked by strength and quiet vulnerability. Ejva’s relationships, including a complicated love triangle, develop into a wider examination of Sámi masculinity, while the film’s Toronto and San Sebastián screenings suggest strong international arthouse appeal.