‘Number 24’ - duty under occupation

Marcus Falcão / THE GATEPOST

By Michael Trueswell Staff Writer Released just a few months ago and directed by John Andreas Andersen, the Norwegian film “Number 24” is unique. Equal parts a spy, war, and biography film, it depicts the real Norwegian resistance movement during WWII through the eyes of its most decorated volunteer in the twilight of his life. “Number 24” covers the life of Gunnar Sønsteby, a young Norwegian accountant who, after the 1940 invasion of his county, joins the fight with the resistance. He first worked on a resistance newspaper and eventually joined the British espionage efforts early on in the film. There Sønsteby was assigned the codename Number 24 and worked to undermine the Nazi occupation of his country through subterfuge and intrigue. Because of his effectiveness, Sønsteby quickly became a leader. He personally sabotaged arms factories, oversaw mass burning of conscription documents, and ordered and carried out executions of occupation leaders and collaborators. The film starts with a much older Sønsteby giving a lecture about his life to a room full of teenage students. The film cuts between his time in the resistance and the lecture showing the audience what Sønsteby doesn’t share with the room. The students' reactions and questions offer a range of views, some completely disinterested and some very critical of his means of violent resistance. The film uses these questions to return to the lecture, but spends most of the runtime with the younger Sønsteby. These edits from wartime to the late 2000s are utilized well and serve to remind the viewers that these events are still within living memory. On my first viewing, I assumed that this was an arbitrary choice. However, in the last few minutes of the film, it makes its inclusion clear and leads to a reveal that adds to the rewatchability of the movie. It also further contextualizes how Sønsteby understands his decisions during the war. “Number 24” depicts events in an honest and not glamorous way but instead shows the real risks and costs of mistakes during these sensitive operations. Potential viewers should be aware that this film includes scenes of torture. The film does not linger on torture or brutality, but the film does not censor the abuse resistance fighters would face if captured. These graphic depictions are true to history and are included sparingly. “Number 24” accurately depicts the realities of occupation and resistance activities. It includes the realities of life under occupation, economic hardship, and especially the constant fear of surveillance from collaborators who politically or monetarily benefited from supporting the occupation. The older Sønsteby reflects on the tough decisions he made during the war and the people who gave their lives to the cause of freedom in Norway. “Number 24” stands apart from other spy films, being able to communicate to its audience the intense stakes of how terrifying it was to live under occupation and how dangerous it was to resist. The casting in “Number 24” was done very well. Sjur Vatne Brean as the younger Sønsteby and Erik Hivju as the older Sønsteby are entirely believable as the same person at different ends of his life. Brean captures Sønsteby’s precision and youthful bravery. Although brief, Hivju’s performance is totally believable as being the same character having the same great qualities as Brean’s performance with a quieter portrayal of a man who has had decades to live with what he has seen and done in service of his country. The supporting cast is also effective in their portrayals of emotional scenes. Rating: A- “Number 24” is an intense time well spent.