Quisling: The Final Days is a haunting, masterfully crafted historical drama that dares to explore a dark and lesser-known chapter of World War II. Directed with striking restraint and visual elegance, the film paints a chilling, introspective portrait of Vidkun Quisling, the infamous Norwegian politician whose name has become synonymous with “traitor.” But rather than simply condemning him, the film digs deeper, offering a psychological excavation of a man who believed — to the bitter end — that he had acted for the good of his nation.
Set in the immediate aftermath of the war, the narrative is inspired by the diaries of Pastor Peder Olsen, who was appointed to Quisling as his spiritual advisor. The film lends itself to a character study rather than a courtroom drama, with many of the most potent scenes taking place in the conversations between the two men. This structure allows the audience to confront Quisling’s ideology firsthand — his justifications, delusions, and unwavering belief that he was Norway’s savior, not its betrayer.
The film excels in presenting moral ambiguity. Quisling is played with eerie conviction by Gard B. Eidsvold. He exudes an unsettling calm, articulating his decisions with intellectual precision and emotional detachment. It’s a performance that almost lulls the viewer into understanding, if not sympathizing with, his rationale. In Quisling’s mind, his collaboration with the Nazis was a strategic decision to preserve Norway and limit bloodshed. And for a time, the film lets us sit with that possibility.
But the genius of Quisling: The Final Days lies in how it slowly peels back the illusion. As evidence of atrocities committed under his regime surfaces — including a harrowing scene at a mass grave and a heart breaking first person account of the atrocities committed at Auschwitz — the viewer is confronted with the stark reality of what his appeasement truly meant. Even then, Quisling’s moral blinders remain fixed. His refusal to acknowledge the consequences of his actions is what finally breaks the spell the film so carefully constructs.
By the time the execution is carried out, Quisling still proclaims his innocence — and yet the audience no longer doubts his guilt. And yet, there lingers an unsettling question: how easily are we swayed by conviction, by rationalization, by charisma? Quisling: The Final Days doesn’t offer easy answers, but it leaves viewers with a powerful sense of introspection. The final, unspoken question resonates long after the credits roll: under the right circumstances, what might any of us justify?
This film is an essential watch for enthusiasts of historical cinema and psychological drama. Quisling: The Final Days is not just a film about a traitor; it’s a profound meditation on belief, guilt, and the dangerous clarity of self-righteousness.
To book tickets to Quisling: The Final Days (Scandinavian Film Festival), please visit https://scandinavianfilmfestival.com/films/sca25-quisling-the-final-days.
