Norway holds school elections every two years in conjunction with the general election and municipal and county elections, which are relatively unique to the world. This can inspire young people to get involved, and this was the basis for the documentary film The Youth, which revolves around the school elections in 2011. We've seen the movie and spoke with director Kari Anne Moe. She test filmed 135 youths before she found the four ones that she has followed closely over several years. She chose Johanne, Henrik, Sana and Haakon because she believes they all have interesting personal stories, a genuine political devotion and the x-factor.

Her goal with the film is that the audience will be left with a sense that life goes on after July 22nd, and that it is possible to make your voice heard if you care about something. She says that one does not necessarily need to get into the Parliament to make a difference. It can be enough to raise your hand in the classroom. We must trust in ourselves and dare to speak up. She thinks this movie is a reminder of how valuable young people's involvement is and how their authenticity should not be underestimated.

"I am very impressed with these young people, and I have become very fond of them. It was both remarkable and sad to see the change they went through after July 22nd," says the director. She had to deal with premises that changed radically, when the bomb hit the government buildings and the Utøya massacre took place in the middle of filming the movie. She is proud to have kept the focus they had set for the movie, although the course was affected by what happened. She didn’t want to make a movie about the Utøya disaster, this movie was always about four young people and their commitment.

The film premieres in Norway August 31st. Go to www.tilungdommen.com for fore information about the film.