Quisling: The Final Days

Quisling: The Final Days is a 2024 Norwegian biographical historical drama film directed by Erik Poppe. Starring, it follows the final days of Vidkun Quisling before his execution in October 1945. It premiered at the Norwegian International Film Festival on 18 August 2024.

Premise

As a result of the legal purge, Vidkun Quisling is sentenced to death for his collaboration with Nazi Germany during their occupation of Norway. He is held in Akershus Prison as he awaits execution.

Cast

as Vidkun Quisling, former head of a pro-Nazi puppet government who is put on trial for treason
Anders Danielsen Lie as Peder Olsen, a hospital chaplain tasked with providing pastoral care for Quisling
as Maria Quisling, Vidkun Quisling's Ukrainian-born wife
Lisa Loven Kongsli as Heidi Olsen, Peder's wife
Nils Jørgen Kaalstad as Dagfinn Hauge, a priest at Akershus Prison
as Arvid, one of Quisling's jailers
Stein Torleif Bjella as Vilhelm Ullman, a childhood friend of Quisling called to testify on his behalf
as Henrik Bergh, Vidkun Quisling's defense lawyer
Lasse Kolsrud as Eivind Berggrav, Primate of the Church of Norway
Vidar Sandem as Erik Solem, the judge presiding over the trial
as Annæus Schjødt, the prosecutor in the trial
Benjamin Lønne Røsler as Leo Eitinger, a Czech-Norwegian psychiatrist and an Auschwitz survivor called to testify against Quisling
as Helge Lindboe Nordtømme, the police inspector leading the investigation of the mass graves at Trandumskogen
Brede Fristad as, one of Quisling's bodyguards during the trial
as Georg Monrad Krohn, head of the Department of Neurology at Rikshospitalet
as Rolf Jørgen Fuglesang, former Minister of Culture in Quisling's regime
Per Vermeli as Johan Andreas Lippestad, former Minister of Social Affairs in Quisling's regime who vainly tries to negotiate an honorable surrender for his peers

Production

The film was announced in 2021. That year, the film received 18 million kroner in production subsidies from the Norwegian Film Institute. Gard B. Eidsvold and Anders Danielsen Lie joined the cast in September 2022. The actors spent 10 weeks in rehearsals for the film.

Release

Promotional stills from the film were released in December 2023. The film premiered at the Norwegian International Film Festival on 18 August 2024. It had its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 8 September 2024.

Reception

Alissa Simon of Variety called the film a "superb historical drama about the far-right's threat to democracy" and "perhaps the strongest work yet from veteran Norwegian helmer Erik Poppe".