What You Need to Know About Netflix's WWII Drama

Picture: Netflix

Netflix is continuing to expand its Nordic film slate with a gripping new WWII historical drama based on true events. Here is everything we know about The Swedish Connection (known in Sweden as Den svenska länken), arriving on the service worldwide this February.

Netflix officially gave the green light to the project, a film deeply rooted in Swedish history, which is set to offer a unique perspective on World War II. Directed and written by the duo Thérèse Ahlbeck and Marcus Olsson, the film highlights a largely unknown story about a Swedish war hero during one of history’s darkest chapters.

The movie has a runtime of 100 minutes (1 hour and 40 minutes), with the movie spoken in Swedish and German. It should feature English dubs and will definitely come with English subtitles.

The film is produced by Julia Gebauer, with a screenplay written by Thérèse Ahlbeck and Marcus Olsson. Cinematography is handled by Joachim Heden, while editing duties are shared by Michal Leszcylowski and Joakim Pietras. The music is composed by Johan Testad and Kaspar Kaae.

When is the release date for The Swedish Connection?

Netflix has confirmed the film’s release schedule. It will first have a limited theatrical release in select cinemas starting February 6th, limited to just theaters in the Nordics, in addition to its world premiere at the Göteborg Film Festival on January 25th. It will then make its global streaming debut on Netflix on February 19th.

What is the plot of The Swedish Connection?

Set in 1942, the film takes place while Sweden attempts to keep a low profile to avoid provoking Germany and risking occupation.

According to the official description, the story centers on the legal department of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Headed by Gösta Engzell, the department initially leaves most Jewish visa applications untouched to maintain the country’s neutrality.

However, the arrival of a newly appointed staff member, Rut Vogel, changes the dynamic. As she begins to question the practice—coinciding with the circulation of rumors regarding extermination camps—a dangerous policy shift begins.

The official synopsis reads:

“Henrik Dorsin, Sissela Benn and Johan Glans become unsung heroes as Swedish bureaucracy takes on the Nazi war machine and helps save Jews from the Holocaust… Armed with paperwork, legal loopholes and understated politeness, a ruthless regime is confronted in this fast-paced and gripping drama based on true events.”

Who is in the cast?

The film features a strong lineup of Swedish talent taking on these serious historical roles.

Henrik Dorsin (Triangle of Sadness) as Gösta Engzell
Sissela Benn (Popular Problems) plays Rut Vogel
Jonas Karlsson (The Snowman) as Staffan Söderström
Marianne Mörck (Wallander) as Stina Johansson
Jonas Malmsjö (The Last Kingdom) as Svante Hellstedt
Johan Glans as Göran Von Otter

The supporting cast also includes:

Carl Jacobsen
Oscar Töringe
Olle Jansson
Christoffer Nordenrot
Richard Ulfsäter
Per Lasson
Simon Norrthon
Loa Falkman

Local Swedish outlet Expressen also published a few more first looks at the new movie in their preview launched in recent days:

Picture Credit: Johan Stjernéus / Netflix

First Look The Swedish Connection Cast

Are you going to check out The Swedish Connection when it drops on Netflix? Let us know in the comments, and you can add the title to your Netflix Queue here.