Sampo Lappelill

[3] The tale follows the Scandinavian literary tradition in which the mysterious, harsh Arctic wilderness, Lapland in particular, is a place of special magic.

[4] In the story, Sampo visits Mount Rastekais,[5] where Hiisi the Mountain King gathered all animals and trolls and goblins to celebrate the return of the Sun (after the polar night).

The golden-antlered reindeer helps Sampo to escape to the only place safe from Hiisi, the Christian priest's house.

[6] Olle Widhe says that at these times the Sami were seen as inferior, pagan, treachery, villainous, exotic people from the point of view of the civilized outsiders: Swedes and Norwegians.

The film was made out of a Stig Wesslén [sv] documentary about the nomadic life of Sami people and the wildlife of Lapland, whose cost grew unexpectedly high.

Prime Minister consultant Gunnar Danielsson gave an idea to make a "popular edition" of the film, so Wesslén and Rolf Husberg came up with the script for it.

[1] In 1985 a Soviet animated film Sampo from Lappland [ru] was released by Kievnauchfilm studio, based on the tale.