COMRADE PEDERSEN
Good morning.
There is a widespread assumption -
- that the world is progressing.
You are, as far as I can see, evidence of the opposite.
As everyone knows, Norway is one of the richest countries in the world.
So it's perhaps a little strange to think that -
- a political movement started in this country around 1970-
- that attracted hordes of eager students and young intellectuals, -
- inspired by a peasant's son from China.
And they decided to mobilize the people against the state.
And overthrow it through an armed revolution.
It's true.
That movement was called AKP (m-l).
Thousands joined the movement, including myself, a few years later.
The movement was clearer, colder, more cynically calculating here -
- than in any other country. With giant China as its ideological ideal.
For me it all started when I moved to Larvik in the '60s to teach.
I don't remember the year. But I do remember the hemlines.
The future seemed open to me.
I could take what I wanted from life.
You have to gain her confidence.
Show her the holes in your socks. That makes a strong impression.
It's disgusting, but you've no choice.
See, that's the only thing that makes you interesting.
Show how helpless you are.
Cultivate your weak sides, never your strong.
And most important, do it in the presence of others.
- I should make a fool of myself? - Exactly!
That sure went well, Pedersen.
Unlike Gunnar, I didn't just want a woman.
I wanted marriage. Children.
At the ripe old age of 28, I had a desperate desire to settle down.
I wanted to walk with my child on a tricycle beside me.
And he'd look up and say, "Daddy?"
And I'd say, "Yes? What is it now?"
LIBRARY
It's about the cultural climate of German composer Arnold Schönberg.
I can warm you up. If you...
If you want.
What are you reading?
Celine. Journey to the End of the Night.
Is it good?
I have to admit that I spied on her on occasion.
But not out of wickedness. Only out of curiosity.
Domestically, happiness had reached new heights.
But outside Larvik city limits things were very different.
High standard?
What the hell is this high standard?
High standard. What the hell is high standard?
Why you want a car and a house when guilt is consuming you?
How can you be so smug...
- 1814. What happened? - The Constitution.
And in 1821, the Aristocracy Law.
Pedersen?
Werner?
Do you know what my great-grandfather voted in 1851?
No?
He didn't vote. Do you know why not, Pedersen?
He wasn't entitled to.
You can't judge the past by the standards of the present.
Maybe not, but we need to look at the way you teach history.
This classroom has an authoritarian structure.
Makes it hard to have a proper conversation.
- You think I'm too authoritarian? - No, you're not. We like you.
But this classroom is too restrictive.
We're sitting in line here. It's very military.
You're up there, we're down here. We can get more out of you.
Can I just show you one idea? Say no if you think it's too much.
If we just move the desks.
Break up the structure a bit.
Isn't that a lot freer?
There is a reason for my standing up here.
If we learn more the higher up you stand, -
- you should be squashed up under the ceiling.
If everyone pushes their desks against the wall...
Don't get up, Pedersen.
Tell me, why were the pupils sitting on the floor during class?
Did you sing?
No.
I didn't even know the song, so...
No, but perhaps it had a catchy refrain?
I won't deny that, but... No, I did not sing.
It's easy to join in a song, if the refrain is catchy.
I agree. But no.
No, I did not sing.
But it's so easy. Your lips begin to move, your throat fills...
No. I just stood there. I didn't even sing inside.
Did you really stand up?
Yes, I really stood up.
But I'm not one of them.
I had to be polite.
That's what this is about. I was being courteous.
You realize you must apologize to the parents?
I can only apologize that there is nothing to apologize for.
Obviously China is an example to be followed.
- The people have taken power there. - China is an interesting case.
But don't forget, China is an ancient culture.
This is not about history. It's about the class struggle.
In China the people have taken power.
Well, teacher...
I don't suppose you noticed milk went up 15 kroner last week?
My meeting with the worker Jan Klåstad -
- fostered a dramatic expectation of what the future held in store.
- My God! I'm dangerous. - Yes, you are.
The intellectual petite bourgeoisie -
- has the power to influence others' views and actions.
The question is, who will you serve?
Now, under capitalism, and later, under real socialism?
So what you're asking is, will I serve the working class?
You won't be free until you're on our side.
Then there's the paper...
You got any change?
- It's not that important. - How much do you need?
One, two, three, four...
Hi.
Hi...
Most typical of AKP (m-l), was its security policy.
The meetings were top secret.
Obviously, these security precautions were very time-consuming.
Comrades! Who was the Soviet State industrialized for?
Who were all these sacrifices made for?
For the people.
The people.
Boldly, I went out into the world to serve the people.
Although I struggled with my working class accent for years.
The Class Struggle!
Unite!
Everyone now! Power to the people!
One leader! The Class Struggle!
One people, one state!
Power to the people!
Unite!
Stand together!
The Class Struggle.
The Class Struggle?
The Class...
My life has changed.
I have become utterly consumed by these fantastic visions.
Thanks to the good grades I, among others, gave him -
- Werner went off to study engineering in Trondheim.
I'll miss our conversations.
- Goodbye, Werner. - Goodbye, Comrade.
But I sure didn't miss him for long.
A new Comrade was arriving.
Going out this late?
Yes. A meeting at school. Don't wait up.
That sick teacher simply refuses to get any better. See you later.
I'm from the bourgeoisie. My father is a professor of medicine.
Like him, I am also a doctor. I grew up in a wealthy part of Oslo.
My parents let me develop freely.
And I've been subjected to very little oppression at home.
But when I joined the Communist Party to create a socialist Norway, -
- their tolerance ran out.
I broke with my parents. I have served the people for four years now.
Finally, I must point out my weaknesses as a Communist.
I don't anticipate the Revolution with any joy.
I work for it day and night, -
- but I carry an inner fear of the revolutionary moment -
- and the upheaval it will bring about.
Does your fear stem from your bourgeois upbringing?
No.
It's a weakness, but not specifically bourgeois.
I think the working class also fears the bloody consequences.
We have nothing to lose but our chains. We don't think like that.
The bourgeoisie has tried to pump that fear into us for generations.
It is only natural to fear a revolution.
Every normal person fears bloodshed.
Nonetheless, fear can impede political activity.
So it is my duty to mention it.
In this world -
- nothing is impossible as long as the people dare rise up.
- What do you think of Stalin? - I love Stalin.
You love Stalin?
What do you love about him? His personality? His actions?
Perhaps a cheeky combination of both?
I just think we should make a clear distinction -
- between some fluffy bunny and Stalin.
He was a lunatic. I'm glad the bastard has been dead for 20 years.
We don't always need to praise someone just because...
Obviously he was a competent man... in his own field... in his own way.
Bye.
There you go.
- Hi. - Hi.
I bought a... record today.
The Sawmill Songs. The new record by Homespun.
Want to come home with me and listen to it?
I agreed to, in spite of my limited musical knowledge.
Oh, Comrade!
Thank you.
I'm a crack marksman.
Bet you didn't know that.
I have to go home now.
- Hi. - That took longer than expected.
Had a good day?
Yes.
Gunnar's a weird bloke. What are you reading?
One Hundred Years of Solitude.
A lot of hard-core pornography is circulating in the workplace.
The working class is being tricked into spending loads of money on it.
That's a fuckin' lie.
There may be porn inside the factory gates.
Specially on the night shift.
It gets passed round and they all snigger. But that is on the outside.
Inside they feel degraded by looking at naked women with shaven pussies.
Comrade Balder...
Tolfsen!
Shaven pussies.
Academics.
Proles... Proletarians.
Workers... Workers.
Library.
Shaven pussies.
Comrade...
Hi.
I've joined the Party.
And I thought you were being unfaithful...
BONJOUR TRISTESSE
We recruit. We use cover names.
And you can't reveal your cover name?
- No. Or I'd have to hurt you. - lf I guessed it?
- I don't know. - Hurt? You mean liquidate?
Maybe.
- Ivan? Igor? - No.
Red Fox?
- Am I getting warm? - No, you're way off.
Compose yourself, Pedersen.
- Suppose I think they're right? - Take a look around you!
- An armed revolution? - Yes.
- Here? - Yes.
Jesus Christ...
It's not that I'm stupid.
The Revolution isn't right round the corner.
But capitalism won't last forever.
Who will be there when it disappears?
Do you think capitalism will last forever? No.
You don't believe that. You're not that stupid!
How can you even entertain such a thought?
Come on! It'll be great fun.
Armed revolution!
For the first time in my life I began to skip school.
What seems to be your problem?
No, but listen:
Why do people think they always have to have real things?
Plastic!
It's practical, useful and cheap. That's why it's beautiful.
I've got plastic flowers at home. They don't wilt.
Perfect for the active Communist.
In a funny way they look real. Even more real than real flowers.
Sometimes they get this velvety layer.
So my mum gives them a wipe when she's cleaning, -
- and they come up like new. Plastic is beautiful.
Give me the pure and the proud
Those with patience and courage
And willpower to spare
Give me those who never will betray our great ideals...
Envelope nr 1:
"Go to the ferry landing in Horten."
"Take the ferry to Moss."
"Drive to Askim railway station."
So it's Østfold county again this year.
Østfold is nice.
SWEDISH BORDER 4 KM
"Cross the border. Wait at Karlstad Hotel."
Brilliant!
Who would expect Vestfold AKP to have their annual meeting abroad?
That wasn't so bad.
It's no good. It's too cold.
In this world nothing is impossible, -
- as long as the people dare rise up.
She blasphemed, tenderly, in my ear.
And she was right. In this world, nothing is impossible.