Religious Themes and Characters in Nordic Children’s Fantasy Films

Explorations of ‘Acceptable’ Religion

Authors

  • Sofia Sjö Åbo Akademi University

Keywords:

children’s films, Nordic films, fantasy, religion

Abstract

This article argues that the character of children’s films make them a useful area of study when exploring attitudes to religion. A recurring idea behind children’s films is that they should include what is good for the child, which means that when religion is included it will be shaped in accordance with ideas of what is seen as ‘acceptable’ religion. Four Nordic children’s fantasy films which include religious beings or themes are analyzed and the attitudes to religion that the films suggest are discussed. The films are argued to present religious spheres as unthreatening, but often also as related to the ‘Other’. The films do not question religious faith as such, but do link it to private choice and children’s fantasies and thereby circumscribe its importance. Simultaneously, the transcendent sphere becomes a sphere of childhood and fantasy and children are, it would seem, bestowed the role of providing adults too an access to something beyond.

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Published

2017-02-28

Issue

Section

Peer-Reviewed Articles