Knut Hamsun, the Norwegian writer and Nobel prize-winner was a widely admired and passionate man. Hamsun actively supported the occupation of his country by the Nazisin World War II because he believes it will protect his people from the treachery experienced at the hands of the English in the previous world war in 1914-1918. Jan Troell′s widely admired film about the esteemed writer who fell from the status of national poet to a betrayer of his country tackles the conundrum of this man who sacrificed so much, both in his personal and public life, for questionable political ideas. Both a political and a personal drama, "Hamsun" shows Scandanavian actor Max Von Sydow operating at the height of his acting powers. Simultaneously, Ghita Norby gives a stunning performance as Marie, Hamsun′s wife who was also forced to make sacrifices in order to support the man she loved.