Nordic Noir turns its attention to WWII in this cracking Nazi adventure story. What makes it slightly different is the theme of Norway’s collaboration with the Germans during the war, and the Nazi’s own use of Jewish scientists to try and win, two relatively new areas for drama to explore. Throw in a strong cast and plenty of action scenes and you’ve got a fascinating piece of TV.
Initially the story concentrates on Heisenberg, a Jewish scientist working on the possibility of nuclear energy. He is about to be sent to the concentration camps when the Germans realise his worth, and he is put into a programme working on this new science which he believes will power the planet, and they believe will blow up London. But is he really on their side or siding with science?
What the project relies on is heavy water, and there just happens to be a factory in Norway producing lots of the stuff. They are happy to produce it, the Germans are happy to pay huge amount of cash for it, there is only one scientist who works there who objects. He defects to Britain, and hooks up with Anna Friel’s Colonel Smith who organises a commando group to parachute over to Norway and blow up the factory. Needless to say it doesn’t go quite to plan.
It’s a fine looking, well-acted drama with plenty of period detail, but what sets it apart here is the debates over science, and the conscience of those involved. Heisenberg is constantly telling the impatient Nazis that whatever they are building the west is building it at the same rate, so the atomic bomb may be years away. Is he telling the truth or stalling? They have no way of knowing.
The owner of the Norwegian factory is a similarly fascinating character. He is perfectly happy to accept Nazi cash for his product, and even happier when they move him into a huge house with servants, but his wife has other thoughts beyond a slap-up dinner. When she witnesses the staff being loaded onto trucks she decides to do something about it.
Overall verdict: Unusual and fascinating look at a little-known chapter of WWII history, well-paced and directed. Anna Friel’s accent is all over the place and her romance with the Norwegian captain is predictable, but they are minor quibbles in what is a powerful drama. The only complaint about the discs is that there are no extras at all, which seems a bit odd.
Reviewer: Mike Martin