In 1940, the German war machine invaded Norway, and Gunnar Sønsteby, a young 22-year old accountant, immediately offered his services to the resistance. He turned out to have a very special and unique talent for leadership, and quickly became the head of all resistance-actions in the Oslo-area. The story of Gunnar, aka «No. 24», has never been more relevant. This skinny, modest, unassuming man, with the accuracy and meticulousness of an accountant, and the audacity and bravery of a real hero, gave the Gestapo years of relentless, tough resistance.
The script was penned by Erlend Loe after an original script by Espen von Ibenfeldt, which was based on the book by Petter Ringen Johannessen and Arnfinn Moland. Norwegian actors Sjur Vatne Brean and Erik Hivju play the main characters.
"The narrative of the main hero of the film serves today as a reminder of the human cost of war and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Sharing the stories of WW2 educates future generations about the realities of conflict and the importance of standing up against tyranny. Preserving and sharing these stories is a testament to the enduring legacy of those who fought for freedom and justice during one of the darkest chapters in human history. Especially today after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine", producer Violeta Drazdauskė from Artbox told FNE.
Espen Horn, Kristian Strand Sinkerud, John M. Jacobsen and Terje Strømstad are producing through Motion Blur (Norway), while Violeta Drazdauskė and Kęstutis Drazdauskas are coproducing through Artbox.
The project was co-financed from Lithuania by the Lithuanian Film Centre with a minority coproduction grant of 43,000 EUR in 2023 and it was also approved for the Lithuanian tax incentives.
The film was shot in 24 shooting dates on location in Norway and Lithuania.
The Norwegian and Lithuanian premieres are planned for the autumn of 2024.
Production Information:
Producer:
Motion Blur (Norway)
Coproducer:
Artbox (Lithuania)
Credits:
Director: John Andreas Andersen
Scriptwriter: Erlend Loe after an original script by Espen von Ibenfeldt
DoP: Pål Ulvik Rokseth
Composer: Kristoffer Lo
Main cast: Sjur Vatne Brean, Erik Hivju
