Synopsis
Renowned journalist Torgny Segerstedt declares war against Hitler as he criticizes Swedish politicians who tried to look away from the tyranny of the Nazis with the good excuse of “neutralism”. His only weapon is his pen and his life is full of gossip such as an affair with his boss’ wife, a love scandal with a secretary younger than his daughter, and the suicide of his wife. However, he continues to fight a one man battle against Hitler and the Nazi regime until his death, throwing the question “Can one person really change history?” to the audience.
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Cast
- Jesper ChristensenTorgny Segerstedt
- Pernilla AugustMaja Forssman
- Ulla SkoogPuste Segerstedt
- Peter AnderssonChristian Günther
- Björn GranathAxel Forssman
- Lia BoysenEstrid Levission
- Maria HeiskanenPirjo
- Kenneth MilldoffPer Albin Hansson
- Lennart HjulströmMarcus Wallenberg
- Birte HeribertsonEstrid Ancker
Recommendations
- 88
RogerEbert.com
A remarkably full-bodied and frank character study that illuminates the old saw about the political being personal in a genuinely unusual way. - 83
Christian Science Monitor
It’s a big movie, but in an emotional, not a historical, sense. Oftentimes it has the hushness of a chamber drama even when the world is its stage. - 80
Los Angeles Times
Measured and beautifully modulated, the 82-year-old director has the kind of sureness and fluidity that is easy to underestimate. But it's difficult not to be impressed by the results. - 63
Slant Magazine
Though ambitiously busy, the film is also self-sabotaging and stagnant, showcasing its main character's struggles without interpreting them into a cohesive thesis. - 63
New York Post
This is a handsome movie, rich in period detail, but the stately pace slows to a crawl in the second half. - 60
The Dissolve
Troell’s portrait, driven by a desire to excavate the truth, is a refreshing respite from artificial biopics. - 60
Wall Street Journal
I can't recommend it without reservation, but it's a must-see for those who have followed Mr. Troell's career, and a should-see for those who can look past its oddities to its cumulative power. - 50
Village Voice
This attention to the personal crises of Segerstedt comes at the expense of a broader and more elusive subject, namely, the war. We know what Segerstedt did, and Troell tries to ask why. What he ignores are the implications.
