Renowned journalist Torgny Segerstedt declares war against Hitler as he criticizes Swedish politicians who tried to look away from the tyranny of the Nazis with the good excuse of “neutralism”. His only weapon is his pen and his life is full of gossip such as an affair with his boss’ wife, a love scandal with a secretary younger than his daughter, and the suicide of his wife. However, he continues to fight a one man battle against Hitler and the Nazi regime until his death, throwing the question “Can one person really change history?” to the audience. The film, though based on historic events and real persons, is more than a biography of Segerstedt’s life or a simple depiction of the tumultuous period. Jan Troell focuses on the how history can intervene in our personal lives, by portraying a gripping, dramatic and poetic tale of a man who could not be silenced until his last sentence. The fantasy sequences that appear throughout the film (and even more often towards the end as the resistance grows) seem to symbolize Segerstedt’s fight with the phantom-like Nazis. The film was shot in color and converted to black and white, which together with the effective use of classical music derives a hyper-realistic effect. (Karen PARK)