''Hammarskjöld'' is a 2023 Swedish

biographical drama A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or group of people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from docudrama films and histo ...

film directed by

Per Fly Per Fly Plejdrup (born 14 January 1960) is a Danish film director, generally credited simply as Per Fly. He has made many films and television shows broadcast on Danish television. Per Fly's awards includes the Crown Prince Couple's Culture Prize ...

. It is based on the final weeks of former UN Secretary-General

Dag Hammarskjöld Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld (English: ,; 29 July 1905 – 18 September 1961) was a Swedish economist and diplomat who served as the second secretary-general of the United Nations from April 1953 until his death in a plane crash in Septe ...

. ''Hammarskjöld'' had its world premiere at the

53rd International Film Festival Rotterdam The 53rd International Film Festival Rotterdam, is the 2024 edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam, which began on 25 January 2024. The festival opened with ''Head South'' a New Zealand film by Jonathan Ogilvie. The complete line-u ...

in 2024.

Plot

Set during the Cold War in 1961, the film follows diplomat and economist

as he embarks on a critical mission to negotiate a ceasefire. After leading UN troops in their first wartime operation, Hammarskjöld boards a plane in a desperate effort to secure peace amidst mounting tensions with his adversaries.

Cast

Mikael Persbrandt Mikael Åke Persbrandt (; born 25 September 1963) is a Swedish actor. In Swedish films, he is perhaps best known for playing Gunvald Larsson in the ''Beck'' series of movies. He is internationally known for his starring role in the Academy Awar ...

* Francis Chouler as Bill Ranallo * Cian Barry as Wieschhoff *

Hakeem Kae-Kazim Hakeem Kae-Kazim (born 1 October 1962) is a British actor and producer. He portrayed Georges Rutaganda in the film ''Hotel Rwanda'' (2004) and won a SAFTA for his performance in the film '' Riding with Sugar'' (2020). He produced and starred ...

Moise Tshombe Moise is a given name and surname, with differing spellings in its French and Romanian origins, both of which originate from the name Moses: Moïse is the French spelling of Moses, while Moise is the Romanian spelling. As a surname, Moisè and Mo ...

Colin Salmon Colin Roy Salmon (born 6 December 1961) is an English actor. He is known for playing Charles Robinson in three James Bond films and James "One" Shade in the ''Resident Evil'' film series. He has had roles on many television series such as ''D ...

Ralph Bunche Ralph Johnson Bunche ( ; August 7, 1904 – December 9, 1971) was an American political scientist, diplomat, and leading actor in the mid-20th-century decolonization process and US civil rights movement, who received the 1950 Nobel Peace Priz ...

* Sara Soulié as Hanna * Adam Neill as Lord Lansdowne * Celine Tshika as Ruth Tshombe *

Thure Lindhardt Thure Frank Lindhardt (; born 24 December 1974) is a Denmark, Danish actor, educated at the drama school at Odense Teater, Odense Theatre in 1998. Life and career Lindhardt grew up in Roskilde. At the age of 12, he got a part in Bille August's ...

as Peter Levin * Jordan Duvigneau as

Patrice Lumumba Patrice Émery Lumumba ( ; born Isaïe Tasumbu Tawosa; 2 July 192517 January 1961) was a Congolese politician and independence leader who served as the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then known as the Republic o ...

* Seán Duggan as Conor O'Brien * Vasiliy Mishchenko as

Nikita Khrushchev Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (– 11 September 1971) was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964 and the Premier of the Soviet Union, Chai ...

Caspar Phillipson Caspar Phillipson (born 13 January 1971) is a Danish actor and singer who perform on screen, stage, and as a voice actor, predominantly in Scandinavian productions. Phillipson is best known in the English-speaking world for his portrayal of John ...

John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), also known as JFK, was the 35th president of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the first Roman Catholic and youngest person elected p ...

* David James as Congo Red * Norman Anstey as Hammarskjöld's butler * Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen as Young Peter Levin * Edvin Endre as Young Dag Hammarskjöld * Daniel Barnett as British Ambassador *Tom Hale as US Ambassador * Eduard Jörgen as Chilean ambassador * Björn Kinder as Ambassador -Under-Secretary * Lars Ulrich Larsson as US deputy ambassador * Jean Teplitsky as French ambassador

Production

The film was directed by

and produced by Patrick Ryborn. The screenplay was written by Ulf Ryberg, who drew inspiration from historical accounts of Hammarskjöld's life and the circumstances surrounding his untimely death. The production sought to recreate the tension and uncertainty of the Cold War period, with meticulous attention to detail in the film's setting and character portrayals.

Reception

Upon its release, ''Hammarskjöld'' received praise for its compelling narrative and strong performances, particularly in the portrayal of Dag Hammarskjöld. Critics highlighted the film's ability to blend historical drama with suspense, creating a thought-provoking depiction of a significant moment in history. The film also sparked renewed interest in the events leading up to Hammarskjöld's death, with some commentators discussing its implications in the context of modern geopolitics. The film received negative reviews for glossing over its Congo Crisis controversies.

Historical Context

was the second Secretary-General of the United Nations, serving from 1953 until his death in 1961. His tenure was marked by efforts to navigate the complexities of the Cold War, and he played a crucial role in establishing the UN's peacekeeping operations. The film ''Hammarskjöld'' touches on these aspects of his career, particularly his involvement in the

Congo Crisis The Congo Crisis () was a period of Crisis, political upheaval and war, conflict between 1960 and 1965 in the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville), Republic of the Congo (today the Democratic Republic of the Congo). The crisis began almost ...

, which ultimately led to the mission depicted in the film.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hammarskjold 2023 biographical drama films 2020s Swedish films 2020s Swedish-language films Biographical films about politicians Films about diplomats Films directed by Per Fly Swedish biographical drama films