Nine-year-old Elsa, a Sámi girl, witnesses her reindeer, Nastegallu, being poached and is frightened into silence.

[1][2] Actress Elin Kristina Oskal is also Sámi, having grown up in Saltdal Municipality in Nordland county.

She commended Ken Are Bongo's cinematography, writing that the film had an "appealing setting for a story that, albeit bluntly, articulates the magnificence of reindeer herding and how strongly it – although, of course, far from covering everyone – characterizes Sámi culture and identity.

"[10] Lars Böhlin of Västerbottens-Kuriren also gave the film three out of five stars, calling it "excellent" and commending its set design and cinematography.

[11] Karolina Fjellborg of Aftonbladet wrote, "Stolen convinces and touches, and is extremely beautiful to look at, although some aspects of the story feel underdeveloped.