Tongue Cutters

Can children work? In Norway, they can! Young Norwegians have an unusual job, though.

In the north of Norway, kids from the age of six can work at fish factories, cutting cod tongues. This is what Ylva’s mum and grandpa used to do when they were kids. Now, the nine-year-old girl leaves Oslo and goes to the north to her grandparents to learn the family tradition. At work, the girl meets Tobias, a boy aged ten. Thanks to their mutual support and shared experience, the kids grow fond of each other. The friendship that builds up between Ylva and Tobias is the main theme of this endearing documentary about long-lived customs and values that connect people.

#work #friendship #tradition

trigger warning: fish gutting scenes

Did you know…?

Cod tongues are not really their tongues. In fact, they’re fragments of flesh that are cut out from below the fish mouth. They are a favourite snack not only in Norway but also in Japan and China.