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 (of A Thousand Times Good Night, The King’s Choice and Utøya: July 22 fame) shines a light on the why — how did the man make such moral decisions and how was he held accountable for his actions. Played by Gard B Eidsvold (even more harrowing is the fact that the actor’s own father endured six months of brutal torture as a political opponent of the Quisling regime), in the exclusive clip for Quisling – The Final Days we find him being confronted by a man of faith — the spiritual advisor and priest named Peder Olsen (played by Joachim Trier muse Anders Danielsen Lie). Can this priest, himself scarred by the brutality of the war, help the man who was on a first-name basis with Hitler find peace of mind? Is this traitor, who has grandiose ideas about himself and his mission, capable of remorse?
Having its international premiere in the Special Presentations sections at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival on September 8th.
