PER-OLAV SØRENSEN

WITH A NUCLEAR WEAPON
H I T L E R W O U L D H AV E W O N T H E WA R
DI R E CT E D BY
P ER- OLAV SØREN S EN
TV SERIES 6x45 MIN
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T H E H E AV Y WAT E R WA R
A six-part dramatization of one of the most exciting
stories from the Second World War - the Nazis’ efforts
to develop an atom bomb and the Allies’ desperate
struggle to prevent it from happening.
The series starts in Stockholm in 1933 when German
scientist Werner Heisenberg is awarded the Nobel Prize
in Physics and is congratulated by his mentor Niels Bohr –
a previous Nobel Prize winner. One of the dramatic high
points is the daring sabotage mission to blow up the heavy
water factory in the Norwegian mountains in 1943.
Leading English, Norwegian and German actors
portray real life characters and we get to understand their
dilemmas and challenges in this epic story, the outcome
of which will determine the future of democracy.
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EPISODES
As scripted. The edited episodes may vary in content.
EPISODE 1
Brilliant German scientist and Nobel Prize winner Werner Heisenberg
is accused by the new Nazi regime of being politically “unreliable”.
He is about to lose his University position, but when his mother appeals to
the mother of SS leader Heinrich Himmler, he is allowed into Uranverein,
the secret Nazi nuclear energy project. Heisenberg believes heavy water is
needed to control the chain reaction. This component only exists at Norsk
Hydro’s factory in Rjukan, Norway.
The Second World War has now broken out. As a former scientist at
Rjukan, Norwegian professor and reserve officer Leif Tronstad suspects
the German motive for their heavy water order. He tries to warn Hydro
who ends up shipping the heavy water to France under dramatic circumstances. An elaborate decoy plan was initiated. The plane believed to have
valuable cargo on board was forced down over Hamburg by German fighter
planes. But in April 1940 Germany invades Norway and orders a doubling
of the heavy water production. Tronstad escapes to England to warn the
Allies about what he believes is an effort to build a German atom bomb.
EPISODE 2
Leif Tronstad establishes contact with the War Ministry and a plan
to destroy the Hydro facilities at Rjukan is drawn up. A small team
code named ‘Grouse’ will parachute over Norway to prepare for British
commandos who will arrive in gliders. Tronstad hand-picks Knut Haukelid
as the leader of ‘Grouse’. Haukelid is a daring man with no respect for
authority. But just before departure Haukelid ends up in a self-inflicted
accidental shooting and Claus Helberg, an indefatigable worker hailing
from Rjukan now heads the mission.
Heisenberg travels to Copenhagen to meet his Danish mentor professor
Niels Bohr – also a Nobel Prize winner. Bohr implores him to stop working
at the bomb. Heisenberg fails to understand why. He dives back into his
work on the bomb. In Rjukan, the new managing director Erik Henriksen
is confronted with sabotage of the heavy water production. He fires an
innocent employee as a warning to others. Operation ‘Freshman’ takes
off with 34 British commando soldiers, but over the Norwegian mountains
they fly into a snowstorm.
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EPISODES
As scripted. The edited episodes may vary in content.
EPISODE 3
‘Freshman’s’ two glider planes crash violently into the Norwegian
mountains. It is revealed that their target was Rjukan.
Without Erik Henriksen’s approval the Germans heighten security to
maximum level at Rjukan. The Americans insists on bombing the factory.
Leif Tronstad feels this will be futile and persuades the Allies to send in a
team of Norwegians. They will break into the factory and blow it up from
inside. He selects five men for this ‘Gunnerside’ mission and now Knut
Haukelid is in command. The plan is to join up with ‘Grouse’ who has
remained hiding in the mountains.
In Germany Werner Heisenberg tries to hoist uranium plates into heavy
water. The temperature rises violently and he just manages to escape
before the laboratory explodes. Heisenberg argues with his superior that
the fire was a breakthrough – but to no avail. Heisenberg has now become
obsessed. He delivers a speech where he promises a bomb no larger than
a pineapple that will destroy London. At the same time ‘Gunnerside’ takes
off from Scotland heading for Norway.
EPISODE 4
‘Gunnerside’ fail to locate their drop-point and the pilots insist on
turning back. But Knut Haukelid claims to know where they are and
they parachute out over the snow-covered mountains. Far from their
drop point they start looking for the ‘Grouse’ team, and after strenuous
days they finally join up.
Werner Heisenberg is now back in favour with the military and is
appointed director of the Keiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin. He is promised
unlimited support. ‘Gunnerside’ abandon the original plan to shoot their
way across the bridge and into the heavy water factory. Instead they will
try to climb the deep gorge under the bridge. It is considered impossible
and therefore not protected by the Germans. They succeed in blowing up
the factory and Claus Helberg stays behind to continue observing
the factory. The Germans mount a major search for the saboteurs,
and order an immediate rebuilding of the heavy water facilities!
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EPISODES
As scripted. The edited episodes may vary in content.
EPISODE 5
Claus Helberg is caught by the Germans. He manages to escape,
but is badly wounded. Still, he succeeds in getting back to England.
Werner Heisenberg is assigned to continue his work without heavy
water, but explains that no heavy water means no bomb.
Erik Henriksen refuses to give priority to the rebuilding and increase
the delivery of heavy water and is immediately arrested. Learning that
the Germans are rebuilding the factory, the Americans decide to bomb it
against Tronstad’s advice. 150 B-25 bombers are sent on the mission,
but the only result is heavy civilian casualties. The reconstructed
heavy water facilities are undamaged.
The Germans now want to move the entire production to Germany, and
the Allies decide to strike at the weakest link on the route: the unavoidable
ferry across the deep lake next to the factory.
EPISODE 6
The Allies order Knut Haukelid and two more remainders from
‘Gunnerside’ to sink the ferry with the heavy water facilities
mid-way across the lake from Rjukan.
Werner Heisenberg, knowing that the heavy water is on its way, claims
to need only 500 additional litres to succeed with the atom bomb. He gets
drunk with his superior Kurt Diebner who shows him secret documents
about radiation effects leaving him scared and full of despair.
Explosives are placed below deck Saturday night and Sunday
morning the explosion goes off as passengers, crew and German
soldiers desperately try to save themselves in the ice-cold water.
The ferry goes down with every drum of heavy water. Despite the
loss of 20 lives, the operation is defined a success by the Allies.
They now consider “the heavy water issue” closed.
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NOTES
FROM THE DIRECTOR
The Allies’ attempt to destroy the heavy water plant at Rjukan during
World War II is one of the most iconic sabotage operations in history.
Several movies have been made about the mission, many biographies
have been written about the saboteurs, and historians have elaborated
on the events leading up to the mission, its execution, and consequences.
The combination of high risk, action, and intense political intrigue,
the Allies’ fear of Germany developing the atom bomb, and the successful
sabotage – are all ingredients that make for an exciting action thriller.
However, even though The Heavy Water War is a true story that surpasses
all imagination in relation to the drama, courage and intensity, there is
another aspect of this tale that touches me.
That is the history behind the sabotage missions.
The story of the risk of human lives.
It is a story that raises both moral
and ethical questions.
Per-Olav Sørensen
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P E R - O L AV S Ø R E N S E N
DIRECTOR
The director, writer and producer
Per-Olav Sørensen has a long career
within feature films, TV and the
theatre.
He has directed TV series such as
award-winning The Half Brother (2013),
Six Like Us (2004, Seks som oss) and
The Honey Trap (2008, NRK, Honningfellen), and the feature People in the
Sun (2011).
Several of his theatre productions
have become international successes
(TanGhost and Come! (KOM!)) and
have toured around the world.
Sørensen is the only Norwegian director
to have won or been nominated for all
the most prestigious Norwegian awards;
The Amanda Award (the Norwegian
equivalent of the Oscar), The Hedda
Award (A Norwegian theatre award),
The Comedy Award (Komiprisen Norwegian Comedy Award), and
The Golden Frame (the Norwegian
equivalent of the Emmy).
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MAIN CAST
Espen Klouman-Høiner
Leif Tronstad
Espen Klouman-Høiner was born in 1981.
He is an actor known for his work on
Just Bea (2004), Reprise (2006) and
Must Have Been Love (2012).
Christoph Bach
Werner Heisenberg
Christoph Bach was born in 1975.
He is an actor, known for Detroit (2003), Cat in
a Bag ( 2005, Katze im Sack) and 15 Minutes
of Truth (2007, 15 Minuten Wahrheit).
Anna Friel
Captain Julie Smith
Anna Friel was born in 1976 in Rochdale,
Lancashire, England. She is an actress, known
for Land of the Lost (2009), London Boulevard
(2010) and Limitless (2011).
Pip Torrens
Colonel Wilson
Pip Torrens was born in 1960 in Bromley,
Kent, England. He is an actor, known for Pride
& Prejudice (2005), Dorian Gray (2009) and
My Week with Marilyn (2011).
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MAIN CAST
Dennis Storhøi
Erik Henriksen, Managing Director,
Norsk Hydro’s Factory Rjukan
Dennis Storhøi was born in 1960 in Fredrikstad,
Norway. He is an actor, known for Stork Staring
Mad (1994), The 13th Warrior (1999) and Six
Like Us (2004, Seks som oss).
David Zimmerschied
Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker
Actor David Zimmerschied was born in 1983.
He is known for The Beheaded Rooster (2007),
and The Alchemist’s Book (2008), The Police
Officer’s Wife ( 2013).
Søren Pilmark
Niels Bohr
Søren Pilmark was born in 1955 in Denmark.
He is an actor and writer, known for Flickering
Lights (2000), King’s Game (2004) and
How to Get Rid of Others (2007).
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PRODUCTION TEAM
Filmkameratene AS, Production company
Filmkameratene AS is one of Norway’s longest running production
companies. The company has, on average, produced one feature film
per year for the past 25 years. All their films have been very successful,
and many of them have sold several hundred thousand tickets.
Filmkameratene has an impressive track record for breaking barriers,
such as; the first Norwegian movie in an indigenous language – Sami;
the first Norwegian movie shown in 70mm format; the first Norwegian
full-length animation feature; the first Norwegian co-production with
a Hollywood studio; and the first Norwegian movie that made extensive
use of CGI. The company also produced the Norwegian movie with
the record for most national and international awards (Only Clouds
Move the Stars, 1998), and has been nominated both for an Oscar
(Pathfinder, 1987) and an Emmy (Elias, 2005).
One of the later productions, Max Manus, made its mark in film
history with almost 1.2 million tickets sold in Norway. Another
production, Troll Hunter, has been a huge hit both in Norway
and internationally.
What characterizes Filmkameratene is that we know how to sell
our movies. This is due in part to John M. Jacobsen’s almost 50 years
of experience in the business, not only of production, but also of
distribution and cinema.
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PRODUCTION TEAM
Petter S. Rosenlund, Scriptwriter
Petter S. Rosenlund is a journalist and playwright, and has written
numerous full-length scripts for theatre, television and film. His previous
works include Varg Veum – The Consorts of Death (2011), Codename
Hunter (2007) and Time for Tim (2002). Rosenlund has received the
Ibsen Award, the Amanda Award (the Norwegian equivalent of the Oscar),
and Ark’s Children’s Book Award.
John M. Jacobsen, Producer
John M. Jacobsen started working in the film industry in 1959.
In 1988, he established the Norwegian branch of Svensk Filmindustri
and in 1996, Jacobsen left to focus more on production, and has
produced over 20 feature films since 1983, including Max Manus
(2008) – the biggest Norwegian box office success of the past 30 years
and Elias – The Little Rescue Boat (2005-2009) – nominated for an
International Emmy.
John M. Jacobsen was appointed Commander of the Order of St. Olav
by King Harald for his contribution to the Norwegian film industry
and has received several awards such as an Honorary Amanda,
an Åmot Award (the film industry’s honorary award) and a Lifetime
Achievement Award from CIFEJ (Centre international du film pour
l’enfance et la jeunesse).
Previously, Jacobsen was also Chairman of the Norwegian Film
and TV producers’ organization for 15 years.
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P R O D U CT IO N FACTS
Preliminary credits. Not contractual.
Production team
Directed by: Per-Olav Sørensen
Screenplay by: Petter Rosenlund
Executive producers: John M. Jacobsen, Sveinung Golimo, Marcus
Brodersen, Morten Fisker, Stewart Mackinnon, Tone Rønning
Producers: Roy Anderson, Kari Moen Kristiansen
Director of Photography: John Christian Rosenlund
Production Design: Kalli Júlíusson
Costume Design: Karen Gram
Make-up Design: Eva von Bahr
Edited by: Perry Eriksen, Martin Stoltz, Silje Nordseth
Sound Design: Kristian Eidenes Andersen
Music by: Kristian Eidenes Andersen
Stills Photographers: Jiri Hanzl, Robert Dreier Holand
Produced by: Filmkameratene AS, Sebasto Film & TV Aps,
Headline Pictures Ltd., The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation
Supported by: The Norwegian Film Institute, Nordic Film- and TV fund,
the MEDIA Programme of the European Union
International Sales: AB Svensk Filmindustri
Facts
Genre: Drama
Country: Norway
Language: Norwegian, German, English
First Release: Winter 2014/2015
Duration: 6x45 min
Format: 16:9 HD
Sound: 5.1 Surround
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P R O D U CT IO N FACTS
Preliminary credits. Not contractual.
Cast
Leif Tronstad: Espen Klouman-Høiner
Werner Heisenberg: Christoph Bach
Captain Julie Smith: Anna Friel
Colonel Wilson: Pip Torrens
Erik Henriksen: Dennis Storhøi
Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker: David Zimmerschied
Niels Bohr: Søren Pilmark
Axel Aubert, CEO, Norsk Hydro: Stein Winge
Claus Helberg: Christian Rubeck
Joachim Rønnerberg: Tobias Santelmann
Knut Haukelid: Frank Kjosås
Fredrik Kayser: Mads Sjøgård Pettersen
Kasper Idland: Eirik Evjen
Birger Strømsheim: Ole Christoffer Ertvaag
Knut Haugland: Audun Sandem
Knut Storhaug: Endre Ellefsen
Jens A Poulsson: Benjamin Helstad
Arne Kjelstrup: Torstein Bjørklund
Einar Skinnarland: Rolf Kristian Larsen
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Credits not contractual.
Svensk Filmindustri is Scandinavia’s largest film company
operating in every major Scandinavian territory.
A market leader for more than 90 years,
Svensk Filmindustri is active in all facets of the industry
i.e. production, exhibition, theatrical distribution,
home video distribution, television distribution
and multimedia distribution.
Svensk Filmindustri is a subsidiary of the Bonnier Group the major media company in the Nordic region.
International Sales: AB Svensk Filmindustri
SE-169 86 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: +46 8 680 35 00 / Fax: + 46 8 710 44 60
international@sf.se / www.sfinternational.se
FILMKAMERATENE