Summary of Olava
Olava is the story about the girl Olava and her family, who live on a farm in a small community in the Western part of Norway around 100 years ago. As the oldest daughter of the family, Olava becomes responsible for caring for her newly born brother because her mother is too weak. When the mother loses her milk and little brother gets sick, Olava finds in secrecy and against her father’s will a gypsy woman as a nurse and with the help from the servants on the farm and the gypsy family, they manage to save the little boy. After a tragic accident, Olava leaves her childhood home. This is the beginning of a dramatic journey which ends in Olava getting work at a hotel in the Eastern part of Norway. She is happy about the work in the kitchen but is tyrannised by the manageress. Olava tries to forget the past but cannot find out how to let go of old feelings of grief and guilt and as the years pass, she sinks deeper and deeper into a depression. She has given up all hope when she meets the gypsy family again and this becomes a turning point in Olavas life. From the gypsy family’s shuvani (medicin woman), Olava is introduced to their culture, old wisdom and healing traditions. Back at the hotel, Olava begins a long, inner journey and she goes through a big personal development. This brings Olava back to life.
Resumè af Olava
Olava handler som pigen Olava, der vokser op sammen med sin familie på en gård i det vestlige Norge for omkring 100 år siden. Vi møder Olava første gang den dag hendes lillebror kommer til verden, en begivenhed der vender op ned på Olavas liv. Moren er så afkræftet efter fødslen, at Olava overtager ansvaret for pasningen af sin lillebror. Det er en opgave, der hurtigt modner Olava, som i skjul og mod sin fars vilje søger hjælp hos en sigøjnerfamilie, da lillebror bliver syg. Som tiden går, bliver båndet mellem Olava og lillebror stærkere, men en tragisk ulykke gør, at Olava forlader sin familie og hjembygd og rejser ud i verden for at klare sig selv. Hun får arbejde på et hotel, hvor hun oplever medgang og modgang, men Olava har svært ved at slippe fortiden, og efter en dyb depression, møder hun igen sigøjnerfamilien. De viser hende, at der findes en vej ud af smerten, og det bliver begyndelsen til en ny vej for Olava. Hun lærer sig selv at kende på en helt ny måde og finder tilbage til glæden ved livet og hvad hun vil med sit liv.
