Min morfars morder

The film is about mercy and forgiveness. A documentary director (Søren Fauli) puts himself in the position of main character and makes a journey to Germany in order to forgive former SS-officer Søren Kam. Kam participated in killing Fauli's grandfather during the German occupation of Denmark in the late 1940s. The film is a well-crafted description of a physical journey to the heart Europe as well as a journey to the heart of the concept of mercy. In this way it is an important antidote (played out on a personal level) in the ever more present retaliation and 'an eye for an eye'-reality of today's political stage.

Min Morfars Morder

Directed by Søren Fauli & Mikala Krogh (2004)

In the occupied Denmark under the WII the Danish editor and journalist Carl Henrik Clemmensen was shot and murdered by the Danish SS Søren Kam. Here – about 60 years later, Clemmensens grandson, the Danish comedy filmmaker, Søren Fauli decides to make the journey the Germany, where Søren Kam now lives, and confront him. Not to punish him in any way – nor orally or physically, but to seek recognition for himself and his family, and to forgive this man for the terrible thing he did for about 60 years ago. In doing this, Søren Fauli believes that he can end this wicked circle, which has bothered his family and especially his mother ever since then.

First of all I must say that I was moved by this documentary. It is extremely personal and showing a very different side of Søren Fauli than the side of him we usually see. He is known as a very cheerful guy, but you wont think of that a second, once you have started watching this documentary. Its length is only about an hour, but the length fits the subject perfectly and helps the pace of the documentary and not making it seem slow at all. The very personal subject in this movie creates a tension of what really will happen if or when Fauli meets his grandfather's executioner. I'll give a big hand to Fauli for making this documentary. It is honest and mature – and we see a brand new aspect of Fauli's talent.

8/10