News of Norway, issue 9, 1996
Both were made by Astrid Karlsen Scott, a Norwegian-American author and producer, in collaboration with Nordic Adventures.
The board called the Christmas video "charming, educational and entertaining, with scenery as beautiful as brilliant painting." The cooking video, which offered "scrumptious recipes," focuses on Christmas delicacies, mostly Norwegian desserts like rice porridge and rice cream.
Liv Dahl, manager of the Heritage Programs for Sons of Norway, viewed the Christmas video as a masterpiece. One highlight is the lighting of the huge Christmas tree at Torvet in Trondheim. If you long for Norway, don't watch this video, as it will make you miss the northland even more with its great variety of scenes and emphasis on traditional events.
There are no actors in the film. "We filmed people in the natural surroundings doing exactly what they do each Christmas," the producer explained. Maybe this was the secret of making the film go straight to the hearts of the Film Board judges.
The videos can be ordered through most Scandinavian gift shops, or direct from Nordic Adventures, 7602 Holiday Valley Dr. NW, Olympia, WA 98502, Phone 360/866-3798.