It’s the late ’60s and protest movements are sweeping the globe. Connected to these far-away goings-on by a new television set is young Frits (Janus Dissing Rathke), a 13-year-old schoolboy in a provincial Scandinavian farming community, who’s inspired by the example of Martin Luther King to fight for justice after being ferociously beaten by tyrannical headmaster Lindum-Svendsen (Bent Mejding). Based on events and characters from the childhood of Danish writer/director Niels Arden Oplev, this engaging story has the outraged teenager determined that this bully be held accountable for his actions.
It’s far less sentimental than most films for young audiences, with the treatment of Frits’ father’s mental illness commendably sensitive. And the lively Dissing Rathke is excellent as the unconventional youngster, guided by his belief in non-violent resistance.
