Sigrid advocates for women’s narratives in Norwegian war films during podcast discussion

Sigrid Bonde Tusvik has expressed criticism of Norwegian war films during an episode of her podcast “Tusvik & Tønne.” She advocates for more narratives focused on women who made significant contributions during World War II, rather than just the traditional male heroes. War film director John Andreas Andersen agrees with her sentiments but defends his choice to cast a male lead in his latest film, “Nr. 24,” which tells the story of resistance fighter Gunnar “Kjakan” Sønsteby.

Tusvik articulated her concerns, stating, “It’s just men, men, men!” She emphasizes the necessity for broader representation that includes women who risked their lives during the war. She hopes to hear more stories about the people who surrounded the male heroes.

In response, Andersen acknowledges that while women’s representation in war films has been inadequate, he believes that his film does include significant female supporting roles. He commented that having a female director produce a war film featuring a female lead would be admirable but chose to focus on Sønsteby’s story this time, citing its relevant message for today’s audience.

In a positive development, Trøndelag Teater is producing the play “Drontheim,” spotlighting the roles of women during the war. Directed by Catrine Telle, the play tells the tale of sisters Johanna and Thora Matheson, who worked with the resistance group XU in Trondheim. Telle supports Tusvik’s call for better representation and emphasizes the importance of sharing women’s stories, as these narratives have often been overlooked. The play is set to premiere on January 31.