NR | 1h 51m | Biography, Drama, War | 2024
World War II films often focus on familiar theaters like the war in France, Russia, and England, but less attention is given to Norway’s resistance during the Nazi occupation. Yet it offers a story full of courage and ingenuity.
This hidden chapter comes to life in “Number 24,” directed by John Andreas Andersen and now streaming on Netflix. The film explores the extraordinary true story of Gunnar Sonsteby, Norway’s most renowned civilian resistance fighter, who operated under the titular codename. Leading an underground network in Oslo, Sonsteby orchestrated daring missions that undermined Nazi control while risking everything (including his family’s safety) for his country’s freedom.
One of the things that makes this film particularly compelling is its dual-timeline narrative, which moves seamlessly between past and present. In the flashbacks, Sjur Vatne Brean portrays Sonsteby as a young man thrust into the chaos of war, taking on multiple aliases to carry out risky sabotage missions. Meanwhile, Erik Hivju plays the older Sonsteby, reflecting on the cost of his decisions as he recounts his story to a group of students.
This structure creates a thought-provoking contrast: the immediacy and danger of the past balanced against the introspection and moral reckoning in the present.
The film opens in the present day with an unexpectedly tranquil scene of Sonsteby and a friend on a mountainside, engaged in a thoughtful conversation about the cost of freedom. This seemingly serene moment takes on deeper meaning as the story unfolds, transitioning to 1940 when Nazi Germany invades Norway.
Dissatisfied with his country’s subjugation, the young Gunnar transforms from an ordinary accountant-in-training into a skilled clandestine operative, leading missions that include smuggling crucial assets, destroying critical Nazi infrastructure, and disrupting their supply chains. Of course, these daring acts of defiance come with significant risks.
Through the flashbacks, the film delves into Sonsteby’s most perilous missions, including the controversial targeting of Norwegian collaborators, a decision that sparks intense debate among the students in the present-day timeline (viewed, unsurprisingly, through the lens of hindsight).
Gunnar meets their inquiries head-on, answering with unflinching honesty, as he grapples with the ethical dilemmas he confronted and the profound toll these choices exacted on his conscience.
Indeed, the film refuses to shy away from the brutal complexities of war, presenting Sonsteby’s sacrifices as both profoundly heroic and deeply haunting, leaving viewers with lingering questions about the cost of resistance.
As the two timelines weave together, they form a fascinating portrait of Sonsteby’s life, from his relentless fight for his country’s freedom to the enduring impact of those choices.
Brean and Hivju deliver standout performances, capturing the evolution of Sonsteby’s character across decades. Brean (looking somewhat like a younger Adrien Brody) brings a mix of youthful resolve and vulnerability to the role, while Hivju embodies the introspection of a man who has lived with the burden of his past.
Written by Erlend Loe and Espen Lauritzen von Ibenfeldt, the film offers a nuanced exploration of resistance, refusing to reduce its subject to simple heroics. Sonsteby’s story is one of bravery, ingenuity, and unrelenting resolve, but also one of sacrifice, loss, and moral quandaries. The film challenges viewers to consider the cost of freedom and the lines that are crossed in its pursuit.
In the end, “Number 24” serves as both a gripping historical drama and a profound meditation on the human cost of resistance. By shedding light on this lesser-known chapter of WWII, it pays tribute to Sonsteby and the countless others who fought to preserve their nation’s independence. The result is a film that resonates far beyond its historical setting, offering timeless insights into the nature of sacrifice and the enduring fight for both freedom and justice.
