“A stylish historical lesson and an homage (ScreenAnarchy)” — Iconic actor Mikael Persbrandt (The Kingdom Exodus) stars in the gripping true story of the man John F. Kennedy once called “the greatest statesman of our century,” Dag Hammarskjöld.
New York City, 1961. At the peak of the Cold War, the charismatic diplomat and economist Dag Hammarskjöld has reached the pinnacle of his power, serving in his seventh year as Secretary-General of the United Nations. During the process of decolonization, he takes it upon himself to bring peace to the African countries, thwarting plans to further exploit resources of both powerful entrepreneurs and world leaders. Meanwhile, a visit from his old friend Peter turns his life upside down, and Dag begins questioning his unprecedented devotion and dedication to his job and vision. But when UN peacekeepers are killed in open battle in the Congo, the Secretary-General sees no other way than to impose peace by new measures, leading the UN troops on their first war mission. As he boards a plane to negotiate a case-fire, Hammarskjöld is aware that enemies are plotting against him…
Based on historical facts and including the results of the most recent investigations, this political thriller puts one of mankind’s most respected diplomats into the limelight (dir. Per Fly, Sweden, 2023).
“A measured, respectful drama…there is a crisp elegance to the storytelling that seeks to match Hammarskjold’s personality” (Allan Hunter, Screendaily)
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Per Fly is a multi-award-winning and internationally renowned director and screenwriter. With a career marked by a focus on social and political issues, Fly has established himself as a director with a keen eye for storytelling and a commitment to exploring the human condition. Fly’s feature film The Bench (2000), won him both a Bodil and a Robert Award for Best Director and Best Film. He is also the director behind the international acclaimed feature films The Inheritance (2003) and Manslaughter (2005): both films showcased Fly’s ability to weave compelling narratives around characters facing moral and societal struggles. Fly also directed Monica Z (2013), the biopic of famous jazz singer Monica Zetterlund, which won three Swedish Film Awards, including Best Director and the City of Gothenburg Award, at the Göteborg Film Festival. Per Fly wrote and directed the feature film Backstabbing For Beginners (2018), starring Theo James and Ben Kingsley and produced by A24, and the acclaimed series Performances (2007), Follow the Money (2016) and BAFTA-winning political drama series Borgen (2022).