Jacob and the Quisling (original title: Skuddene på Bergenhus) is a Norwegian short film with strong Coming-of-Age overtones. The lead character is twelve year old Jacob (Lukas Holen) whose father makes him clean the floors of the police station. It is there that he meets a man, a quisling (a traitor, especially one who collaborates with an enemy occupying force), who is on death row.
Although Jacob is instructed not to speak or even look at the prisoner – they strike a conversation which leads to dire consequences for both of them as the man is considered to be a monster by the police.
Although the plot is not entirely convincing, the film impresses with its excellent product design (especially the costumes) which give it an authentic look for the time period in which the action takes place (the aftermath of World War II). Sound is used to create suspense in an effective manner and the acting of Lukas Holen as Jacob is impressive. Unfortunately, the young actor did not pursue a career in cinema.
The central motif is compassion. But, in addition to that, there is an emphasis on a father-son relationship as well as hate and rebellion. Last, but not least, the final scene is beautiful and memorable on its own .
