It takes the whole film to get to some legitimate drama, but the ending of Stolen (2024) features a rather dangerous confrontation between Elsa and Robert, who wants to keep her from speaking out about the injustices against her people. However, it does feel like too little too late, and the story returns to a full-circle moment that reiterates its messaging rather than paying off the drama.
I did enjoy the insights into the Sámi people and reindeer herding, as I explained in my review, but the ending proves that the film’s actual plot is in service to an underlying point that is often presented in the manner of a docudrama rather than a work of fiction.
Stolen’s protagonist is a Sámi woman named Elsa who grew up herding reindeer with her family in Northern Sweden. When she was only a child, Elsa saw local villager Robert kill her first reindeer calf but stayed because she was scared he would harm her. Robert is part of a group of residents from the nearby village who resent the Sámi and take out their frustration by slaying their reindeer.
Robert’s Torment Takes A Toll
After seeing Robert and one of his friends ice fishing on snowmobiles, Mattias loses his cool and points his rifle at him. Robert easily removes the weapon from Mattias’s hands and hits him in the head with it before returning.
At the medical center, Mattias admits he’s been struggling mentally with the recent events and the doctor recommends he see a psychologist. Outside, Elsa insists Mattias should report Robert to the police for the assault. However, one could make a case that Robert was simply defending himself against the man who pointed a weapon at him. And Robert is best friends with several of the police officers in town.
These scenes highlight two things. One is the deeper effects of this kind of harassment, especially mentally. The second is how hard it is to combat. The fact that Robert can’t simply be reported, and that if he were to be it’s likely that the blame would be placed on the Sámi people, really highlights the struggles of indigenous people when xenophobia is rampant.
Robert Confronts Elsa
Stolen (2024) | Image via Netflix
Later that day, Elsa snaps a picture of Robert poaching one of the reindeer. That night, Robert shows up at the family’s house with a rifle. Elsa, who’s home alone, hides in the cellar. She makes a quick call to emergency services before he figures out her hiding spot.
Robert tries opening the cellar door, but accidentally breaks the handle. He’s rather intoxicated and claims he just wants a chat with Elsa about how she’s breaking their “agreement” by speaking up too much. Elsa responds by letting him know she already called the police, making Robert run away from the house.
The police pay Robert a visit and he unsurprisingly tries to claim Elsa made the whole thing up. He even goes as far as to say he will make a defamation report against Elsa. When the police go to speak to her, they explain they couldn’t arrest Robert because there is no proof he was ever in her house.
As we see here, the same themes from earlier are repeating.
Robert’s Demise
Stolen (2024) | Image via Netflix
When Elsa can’t get a hold of her brother, she decides to check Robert’s barn for evidence he’s killing the reindeer. Inside the barn, she finds a makeshift abattoir with multiple reindeer carcasses and a freezer full of meat. Robert must have been saving a fortune on his weekly grocery shopping.
Elsa takes a few photos, but Robert sees her leaving his barn and gives chase on his snowmobile. Meanwhile, Mattias is about to hang himself. He thankfully stops when he realizes his sister is in trouble.
The snowmobile chase ends in a frozen lake, where Rober crashes. He is stuck under the snowmobile and asks for Elsa’s help. Elsa approaches Robert with her riffle and says she won’t help him until he admits he was behind all the reindeer slayings. Unable to stop himself, Robert hurls some slurs at Elsa but goes back to begging for his life when the ice starts to give in. She tries to save him, but she’s too late and Robert meets a grim end underneath the ice.
The Ending of Stolen Comes Full Circle
Stolen (2024) | Image via Netflix
When Mattias arrives, a shell-shocked Elsa is worried the police will accuse her of murdering Robert. Her brother reassures her it was just an unfortunate accident. He also asks for her forgiveness for thinking about ending his own life.
In the aftermath of Robert’s death, police uncover enough evidence in his barn to arrest his other poaching accomplices. At the family’s home, Elsa convinces her brother to check himself into a mental health hospital.
The movie ends with Elsa advising a young boy who is preparing to receive his first calf, as she did at the film’s start.
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