Part of: 2025 Nellie Wong Magic of Movies Essay Contest
“The more layers you add to something, the more beautiful it gets.” That is what my dad said as he dipped a candle wick into warm wax. It was a hot summer day, and my dad and I were dipping candles in our garage. It was our tradition. Candles are like a person, each with colorful layers and lessons. It makes them beautiful, and eventually, they will burn out too. It was only six months after my last time making candles with my dad that his candle would burn out. I only got seven years with him, but he made every minute special. He always lived life to its fullest. He taught me to be the brightest version of myself. I felt trapped in the chaos of the world that was moving without him; I didn’t know how to grieve.
The powerful documentary, Folktales, is a film that focuses on the transformation of the mind through the experience of integrating nature into daily routines. Pasivik is a high school made for kids to reimagine the world through the lens of a Stone Age human exploring a life lived simply. One student in the film, Hege, particularly resonated with my perspective of the world. After the recent death of her father, she is struggling to grasp the ever-changing reality of being a teenager.
At Pasivik, Hege chooses to care for the oldest of the sled dogs. To her, the very essence of the dog is a reflection of her grandfather and generations of her heritage that came before her. The relationship provides a safe space for her to feel and heal from the loss of her father. Hege’s solo expedition into the Arctic wilderness is the next layer added to her soul. The solitude challenges her to find the resilience that was always there within her.
Just like my dad, Hege’s father was a nature guy, and being in nature helped both of us feel more connected to them. In the beginning, I didn’t understand how to continue living normally while balancing my fear. I was afraid I would forget my dad. The film Folktales reminded me that there is no road map to grief. Six years later, I am in my garage making candles with new people, adding new layers to my life, remembering the more layers you add, the more beautiful life becomes.