The Last Sentence

"Veteran Swedish director Jan Troell’s biopic of his fellow countryman, Torgny Segerstedt (Jesper Christensen) - a newspaper editor in the ‘30s who spoke out against Adolf Hitler - is an exceedingly sombre, lugubriously paced historical drama that stirs the intellect more than the heart. Which is a little odd, since Klaus Rifbjerg’s screenplay - based on Kenne Fant’s biography - foregrounds the personal aspects of Togrny’s life, focusing on his relationship with three women: Norwegian wife Puste (Ulla Skoog), who’s trapped in a loveless marriage; Jewish mistress Maja (Pernilla August), who’s married to his publisher boss; and his dead mother, who haunts him as a black-veiled apparition."

"Offers a potentially intriguing study in high-minded political/moral obstinacy, but feels too claustrophobic — and, finally, tediously like a one-man window on great events — to fully come to dramatic life."