Modern Norwegian Occupation Drama Films: The Heroes and the Villains

The article focuses on modern Norwegian occupation drama films released between 2016and 2023. It builds on a thematic phase division of the genre by film researcher Gunnar Iversen.The author suggests that by the year 2019, Norwegian World War II films were entering a newphase that focussed on alternative storytelling represented by women, children, sailors orJews. In spite of this, however, the traditional master narrative of hero stories was maintained.Moreover, contemporary debate about the genre’s development, its representation in literatureand in other European countries is discussed.