Max Manus: Man of War
| Max Manus | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by |
Joachim Rønning Espen Sandberg |
| Produced by | Sveinung Golimo John M. Jacobsen |
| Written by | Thomas Nordseth-Tiller |
| Starring |
Aksel Hennie Nicolai Cleve Broch Agnes Kittelsen Ken Duken Petter Næss |
| Music by | Trond Bjerknes |
| Cinematography | Geir Hartly Andreassen |
| Edited by | Anders Refn |
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Release date
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Running time
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118 minutes |
| Country | Norway |
| Language | Norwegian German English |
Max Manus: Man of War is a 2008 Norwegian biographical war film based on the real events of the life of resistance fighter Max Manus (1914–96). The story follows Manus (Aksel Hennie) from the Winter War against the Soviet Union, through the outbreak of World War II and the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany until peacetime in 1945. The production included around 1,800 extras and 2,000 workers behind the cameras.
The film is based on Max Manus's own books Det vil helst gå godt and Det blir alvor, as well as other accounts and historical documentation. The film stays largely historically accurate, but omits some events, and moves some of the supporting characters around to show them taking part in events in place of others.
The film's première was attended by King Harald V, 'Tikken' Manus, Gunnar Sønsteby along with other notable individuals. Reception from critics was largely positive, though some found the film to be too traditional, and compared it unfavourably to the Danish film Flame & Citron. Max Manus also sparked a public debate about the role of the Norwegian resistance movement during the German occupation.
After fighting the Soviets as a volunteer during the Winter War in Finland, Max Manus returns to Norway, finding it occupied by the Nazis. He joins with the Norwegian resistance movement in their fight against the Germans but is arrested. He manages to escape to Scotland where he receives British Commando training before being sent back to Norway to carry out sabotage missions against the occupying forces. Returning to Norway with his friend Gregers Gram, his first mission is an attack on German supply ships. He is spectacularly successful, and soon he becomes a special target for the local Gestapo chief Siegfried Fehmer. Manus, however, avoids capture, and with Gram and Gunnar Sønsteby he forms the so-called "Oslo Gang".
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