Hammarskjöld – Fight For Peace
A speculative biopic about Swedish UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld (Mikael Persbrandt, “Sex Education”), the anti-colonialist, allegedly queer diplomat who died under mysterious circumstances during the Cold War while trying to bring peace to the Congo.
Come to the May 11 screening brushed up on your Swedish history because the Swedish Club will be doing a trivia giveaway of tickets to its famous Pancake Breakfast Event before the film!
* Restricted to audiences in WA State.
The biopic Hammarskjöld – Fight For Peace delves into the complex life and legacy of Dag Hammarskjöld, the Swedish diplomat who served as the Secretary General of the United Nations. Hammarskjöld, whose philosophies are encapsulated in his reflective work "Markings," believed in the intertwining of moral duty and practical action. His tenure at the UN was marked by his fervent efforts to resolve international disputes and his staunch opposition to colonialism, endeavors that garnered both acclaim and animosity. The film explores Hammarskjöld's involvement in the Congo crisis, highlighting his initiative to establish a covert peacekeeping operation, a move that risked his career and reputation. Hammarskjöld's character is portrayed as complex and contradictory, embodying both solitude and mystery, with ongoing debates about his life's details and mental state. Directed by Per Fly and featuring Mikael Persbrandt, who reprises his role from The Siege of Jadotville, the movie presents Hammarskjöld as a man torn between his hidden personal life, including his struggles with his sexuality, and his driven dedication to his global responsibilities. The film also addresses the contentious circumstances surrounding Hammarskjöld's untimely death in a plane crash, presenting a firm perspective on the event that has been subject to speculation and controversy.
—Nancy Pappas
- Original Language Title: Hammarskjöld
- Director: Per Fly
- Principal Cast: Mikael Persbrandt, Francis Chouler, Cian Barry, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Colin Salmon
- Premiere Status: North American
- Country: Sweden, Norway, Denmark
- Year: 2023
- Running Time: 114 min.
- Producer: Patrick Ryborn
- Screenplay: Per Fly, Ulf Ryberg
- Cinematographers: John Christian Rosenlund
- Editors: Fredrik Morheden
- Music: Raymond Enoksen
- Filmography: Backstabbing for Beginners (2018), Monica Z (2013), Manslaughter (2005)
- Language: Swedish, French, English
- Has Subtitles: Yes
- International Sales: Beta Cinema