Blücher

BLÜCHER is a gripping historical drama about a pivotal moment in Norway’s history – and one man’s courageous choice as the country stood on the brink of war and occupation.

Bjørn Sundquist plays Colonel Birger Eriksen as we meet him at Oscarsborg Fortress in the hours leading up to the German attack on Norway on April 9, 1940. Colonel Eriksen is a seasoned but weary officer, worn down by repeated rejections of his attempts to reinforce a neglected reserve fortress manned by a few inexperienced soldiers and outdated equipment. When reports of unidentified ships in the Oslofjord arrive during the night of April 9, he receives no clear orders from high command. He therefore decides to act swiftly and decisively, preparing his men to open fire on the cruiser that turns out to be the Blücher.

The film shifts between the dramatic hours at Oscarsborg and a lesser-known aftermath in 1946, where Eriksen must defend his decisions before a military investigation commission. Was his judgment sound? Was it right to defy military orders and attack a foreign ship? And why did he have to face the full weight of responsibility alone when confronted with the German war machine?

Filmweb