The Black Pimpernel (2007)

Directors:

Åsa Faringer
Ulf Hultberg

Writer:

Bob Foss (written by)

Release Date:

14 September 2007 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

One man made a difference

Plot:

The story about Swedish ambassador in Chile - Harald Edelstam - and his heroic actions to protect the innocent people from the execution during and after the military coup on September 11th 1973. We travel with Edelstam during the terrible moments just after the coup and follows his never-ending fight for human rights, law and order. What drove him? And what price did he end up paying for his total commitment? Haunted by his own demons the we experiences on close hand how a womanizer desperately searches to find love again, a task only doable, if he can fight his own past and redeem himself. After saving hundreds - maybe even thousands - he is challenged once more, this time to save his newfound love from the death penalty issued by the regime. Another impossible task and a desperate chase against time. Based on a true story about a man, that did, what all of us only dreams of.

Cast

Michael Nyqvist	...	Harald Edelstam
Lumi Cavazos	...	Ana Contreras
Kate del Castillo	...	Consuelo Fuentes
Lisa Werlinder	...	Susanne
Carsten Norgaard	...	Winther
Daniel Giménez Cacho	...	Ricardo Fuentes
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Patrick Bergin	...	Senator Davis
Cristián Campos
Claire Ross-Brown

Also Known As:

Svarta nejlikan (Finland: Swedish title) (Sweden)
Clavel negro, El (Mexico)
Musta neilikka (Finland)
Sorte Pimpernel, Den (Denmark)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

Mexico | Denmark | Sweden | Finland

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Santiago, Chile

Company:

Moviefan Scandinavia A/S

An important story of courage for our times

The Black Pimpernel was a surprise to me because it is a rare (and true) story of political courage. An unconventional and savvy Swedish ambassador driven by a sense of justice seeks to save lives during the fascist coup in Chile that replaces Salvador Allende with Augusto Pinochet. The ambassador places the Cuban embassy under the protection of the Swedish embassy, gives refuge to hundreds of people, helps some get out of the country, and falls in love with a female revolutionary. He takes risks no ordinary diplomatic functionary would take, uses his diplomatic immunity to smuggle people to safety, enters dangerous zones controlled by soldiers and challenges them, risking his own life. Ambassador Edelstam seemed to know exactly what to do in dealing with the new fascist regime. His unwavering courage and allegiance to human rights and decency is comparable to that of William Wiburforce, the abolitionist in the movie Amazing Grace. The Black Pimpernel was perfectly believable and kept my partner and I on the edge of our seats.