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Winston Churchill famously used the term “Quisling” to mean traitor, and rightfully so. We’re talking about a man who sold his country during World War 2 and left the people of his country at the mercy of the Nazis. Inspired by Priest Peder Olsen’s diary entries, Erik Poppe’s Quisling: The Final Days is a dark and deliberate slow burn made for people who enjoy the finer things in life. From the moment Vidkun Quisling appears on the screen, Gard B. Eidsvold owns every second of the movie. His portrayal of Quisling is authentic and eerie, and it’ll get you wanting to punch a historical figure pretty badly.

Spoilers Ahead

What happens in the movie?

The Führer has died, and Norway’s Minister-President Vidkun Quisling expresses his grief over the radio. For those who don’t know the context of Norwegian politics during that time, Quisling was the...

Hailed by Variety as “a superb historical drama about the Far-Right’s threatto democracy, the movie “Quisling: The Final Days” helmed by Norway’s top filmmaker Erik Poppe, impressed audiences at the last Toronto Film Festival where it bowed as a Special Presentation.

At home the story of Norway’s infamous Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling, whose name has become a byword for traitor, stirred intense public debate and ended up as the third biggest Norwegian film of 2024. Now its long-form TV version, developed concurrently to the feature film by co-writers Anna Bach-Wiig and Siv Rajendram Eliassen, has a chance to nab the hefty $17,000 Nordic Series Script Award at Göteborg’s TV Drama Vision series showcase.

A penetrating and fascinating attempt to capture what goes on in the complex mind of an autocratic leader, “Quisling” is set at the end of WWII when the Norwegian head of state and Nazi collaborator...

The crude, merciless reality of war prompts people to put themselves through extreme situations, to take decisions they’d otherwise abhor. As differences in ideals create rifts, the equations of once cherished relationships change rapidly. The transformative potential of war and its tragic aftermath is captured in Norwegian war drama Number 24, which primarily acts as a biographical account of Norway’s celebrated war hero, Gunnar Sonsteby, who played a major role in the country’s anti-Nazi resistance movement during the Second World War. While the first two acts of the movie follow a generic war narrative progression, director John Andreas Andersen adds a unique spin to the final act, which serves as the commentary the movie wants to address. As a period piece, Number 24 showcases neat production design, which captures the 40s with a high level of authenticity, reflecting the dread and desperation of the Second World War. The...

Number 24 is a thrilling war biopic based on the life of Gunnar Sonsteby, Norway’s greatest war hero, who bravely led the notorious Oslo gang, which hunted down Nazis in the country during WWII. The plot charts a young Gunnar Sonsteby’s introduction into life as a member of the Resistance, despite never being involved with the military or the government before, and his rise into being one of the most decorated and revered citizens of Norway. Overall, Number 24 is quite an entertaining and enjoyable watch, especially for those who are not well versed with Sonsteby and his contributions against the Nazis.

Spoiler Alert

What is the film about?

Number 24 begins at a school in the town of Rjukan in Norway, where an elderly man is invited onstage to address a big group of students seated inside a hall. The scene is set in modern times, and...

Erik Poppe’s “Quisling – The Final Days” is an interesting look into the mind of Vidkun Quisling, Norway’s most famous Nazi ally, in the crucial years right after World War II. The movie takes place during Norway’s freedom in May 1945. It goes deep into the mind of a man whose name would become associated with betraying his country.

The story is mostly about Quisling’s time in jail and deep conversations with Peder Olsen, the prison chaplain who is supposed to help the shamed political leader face his mistakes. As Norway celebrates its freedom, Quisling is stuck both physically and mentally. He is sure that he is doing the right thing, but he also knows that he is going to be killed soon.

Poppe’s movie is more than just a history lesson; it’s also a complex character study that doesn’t make Quisling into an easy,...

By Abe Friedtanzer

Those with unshakable principles are typically fascinating subjects for film and television, even if those principles contrast sharply with what audiences believe to be right and moral. In the opening scene of Quisling – The Final Days, Vidkun Quisling (Gard B. Eidsvold), the minister president of Norway during the Nazi occupation, announces the death of Adolf Hitler over the radio and frames it as a great loss for the nation. His arrest and imprisonment by the new government follow swiftly, and he remains steadfast that he did the right thing at every turn throughout the entire ill-fated process…...

Both a bold historical drama and a penetrating psychological study of a delusional authoritarian, “Quisling: The Final Days” is perhaps the strongest work yet from veteran Norwegian helmer Erik Poppe. It serves as a bookend of sorts to “The King’s Choice,” his 2016 hit, which dealt with the first three days of Germany’s invasion of Norway in 1940. Set five years later, “Quisling” revisits the period of occupation and its aftermath through the story of Vidkun Quisling (Gard B. Eidsvold), the wartime puppet head of government who collaborated with the Nazis, whose surname is now synonymous with the word traitor.

In a fresh and provocative approach to the titular subject matter, Poppe and his screenwriters view it through the lens of Quisling’s prison meetings with pastor Peder Olsen, whose mission from Oslo’s bishop is to lead Quisling toward contrition and absolution. Their conversations, noted in Olsen’s previously unknown diary of the time,...

You might be surprised to learn that the slang term quisling which means a traitor who collaborates with an enemy force occupying their country is taken from Vidkun Quisling — a Norwegian fascist and Nazi collaborator who served as the Minister President of Norway from 1942 to 1945 in a Nazi puppet state. It was Winston Churchill who immortalized the term. Unafraid to confront the painful chapters of his nation’s history, veteran Norwegian filmmaker Erik Poppe shines a light on the why — how did the man make such moral decisions and how was he held accountable for his actions.…...

One of Norway’s biggest export names, whose credits include Juliette Binoche starrer “1,000 Times Good Night” and Golden Bear nominee “Utøya- July 22,” director Erik Poppe will kick off the Norwegian Film Festival in Haugesund on Aug. 18, with his much-anticipated drama “Quisling – The Final Days,” ahead of the film’s international premiere at Toronto’s Special Presentations.

Although set in Norway during WWII, the film explores today’s pressing issue of the rise of right wing extremism and its threat to democracy.

It centres on the last days before his execution on Oct. 24, 1945, of the infamous Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling, whose name has become a byword for traitor. As Quisling sits in his dark cell, he receives the visit of the priest Peder Olsen. Their encounters – documented in a diary written by Olsen that served as a key source for the script – turn into a psychological battle between the humanist and the fascist.

From Aug. 17-23, the charming coastal town of Haugesund, Norway, will showcase 76 films and 21 shorts in the newly renovated Edda film hub, offering two extra screening rooms, bringing the total halls to seven.

“We are looking forward to using the two new luxury halls and giving both the films and the audience a quality experience,” said festival honcho Tonje Hardersen.

Many of the high-quality features will screen in the festival’s main program, including several Cannes entries making their Norwegian premiere, such as “All We Imagine as Light,” “The Substance,” “Wild Diamond,” “The Girl with the Needle” and “When the Light Breaks.”

Among the four world premieres, three hail from Norway, a nation that boasts an enviable list of 2024 fest winners, such as Sundance’s “A New Kind of Wilderness,” “Handling the Undead,” Berlin’s “Sex” and Karlovy Vary’s “Loveable,” all lined up for Haugesund as well.

“Once again,...

Erik Poppe will direct Bad Moon Rising [working title], a feature written by fellow Norwegian and recent Nobel Prize-winner Jon Fosse, with a script written 26 years ago and minimally adjusted since.

The film is scheduled to go into production on the second week of September this year, in locations along the western coast of Norway including fjords. Casting is underway.

Poppe took meetings in Berlin over the weekend to secure further financing for the project; he is also waiting on the response from the Norwegian Film Institute regarding its contribution.

The story follows a couple from their first meeting, through their relationship including a son,...

“The Worst Person in the World” actor Anders Danielsen Lie and Gard B. Eidsvold (“Wisting”) are set to headline Erik Poppe’s “Quisling.” The film charts the last days of Vidkun Quisling, the former Prime Minister of Norway who was a notorious Nazi collaborator during World War II. The project also comprises a TV series which has been commissioned by TV2.

Danielsen Lie will play the priest Peder Olsen who acted as Quisling’s counselor in prison until he was executed on Oct. 24, 1945.

Set to start shooting this week, the film is produced by Paradox, Sf Studios’ Norwegian production company.

Both the film and series are expected to premiere in fall 2024. Sf Studios will distribute the film in the Nordics and REinvent handles international sales.

The project stems from extensive research and exclusive source material, including the diary written by the priest Peder Olsen from his days as Quisling’s confidante.

Karin af Klintberg is directing.

Sf Studios has launched The King in Cannes - a feature documentary about Swedish monarch Carl XVI Gustaf, that will debut in cinemas in the 50th year of his reign in 2023.

The film is currently in production, directed by Karin af Klintberg; and produced by Stina Gardell and Petra Mahl for Sweden’s Af Nexiko, in co-production with Sf Studios, with backing from the Swedish Film Institute and Svt.

Sf Studios will release the film in Nordic territories in February 2023.

Klintberg has had intimate access to Gustaf in both his private and professional life; the...

Psychological drama is from the director of mass shooting feature ’Utoya - July 22’.

Norwegian filmmaker Erik Poppe is set to direct a period drama about infamous Norwegian prime minister and Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling.

Quisling will be produced by Paradox, Sf Studios’ Norwegian production company, which was run for many years by Poppe with producers Finn Gjerdrum and Stein B. Kvae.

The team describes the feature as a psychological drama. Quisling was eventually put on trial and executed for his collaboration with the Nazis during the Second World War.

Shooting will begin in late 2021 and Sf Studios will handle Nordic distribution.

Italy’s David di Donatello Winners

Winners have been crowned for the 21 David di Donatello awards, the Italian film awards ceremony. Hidden Away, Giorgio Diritti’s drama about Italian painter Antonio Ligabue, won Best Film and Director. Sophia Loren picked up best lead actress for The Life Ahead, while Elio Germano picked up best actor for Hidden Away. Sam Mendes’ 1917 scooped best foreign film. Special awards were presented to Monica Bellucci Targhe, Diego Abatantuono and Sandra Milo. You can see the full list of winners here.

Netflix Greenlights Norwegian Sci-Fi Comedy

Netflix has greenlit Blasted, a Norwegian comedy sci-fi directed by Martin Sofiedal. The script from Emanuel Nordrum follows a bachelor party that stumbles into an alien invasion. Project comes from Are Heidenstrøm (The Wave) at Miso Film. Starring are Axel Bøyum and Fredrik Skogsrud. Netflix is planning to release in 2022.

Erik Poppe To Helm Quisling Feature

Utøya: July 22 director...

Paradox, Sf Studios’ Norwegian production company, is set to produce “Quisling,” a period psychological drama about Vidkun Quisling, the former Prime Minister of Norway who was a notorious Nazi collaborator during World War II.

The film will be directed by Erik Poppe, the acclaimed director of “The Emigrants,” “King’s Choice” and “Utøya: July 22,” who is also one of the founders of Paradox.

In the aftermath of World War II, Quisling was put on trial and executed for his collaboration with Nazis. Since his death, the word “Quisling” is used in Scandinavian and English language to describe a “collaborator” and “traitor.”

“Telling this dramatic chapter in our history is a mission we take very seriously, and we believe cinema is the best way to tell it. It was an intense psychological drama and a thriller that unfolded these days in 1945,” said Finn Gjerdum, who is producing the film with Stein B. Kvae at Paradox.