Swedish Official Gustav Engzell: A Cinematic Tribute to the Rescue of Thousands During WWII

The Swedish biographical drama "Den svenska länken" (The Swedish Link) has recently hit screens, bringing to light the remarkable story of Gustav Engzell. As a dedicated civil servant, Engzell occupied a pivotal role in safeguarding the Jewish population during the dark years of the Second World War. Serving as the head of the Legal Department at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs throughout the conflict, Engzell and his team are estimated to have facilitated the rescue of between 30,000 and 40,000 Jewish individuals. Directors Therese Albeck and Marcus Olsson, who also penned the screenplay, chose a unique narrative tone that blends warmth and light comedy to depict this quiet heroism against the backdrop of rigid Nazi bureaucracy.

Actor Henrik Dorsin takes on the lead role, portraying Engzell as a kind-hearted and modest official who dared to challenge his superiors' indifference toward the Holocaust. The film celebrated its world premiere on January 25, 2026, at the Gothenburg Film Festival, followed by its theatrical release in Sweden on February 6. Global audiences gained access to the story when it debuted on Netflix on February 19. By highlighting these events, the production shifts the historical focus away from Sweden’s debated role as a collaborator and toward the proactive, life-saving efforts of specific government employees.

During the late 1930s, the Swedish government initially maintained a restrictive policy regarding refugees fleeing Nazi Germany. However, a significant shift occurred on September 7, 1942, when Hillel Storch, a refugee from Latvia, provided Engzell with harrowing details about the dire situation of Jews in occupied territories. Motivated by his colleagues—most notably a new staff member named Ruth Vogel, played by Sissela Benn—Engzell’s team began an intensive effort to process visas for Danish and Norwegian Jews seeking safety in neutral Sweden. They navigated these challenges by utilizing legal loopholes and a strategy of "discreet politeness" to bypass bureaucratic obstacles.

While Sweden maintained a policy of neutrality to avoid provoking Germany, the initial approach to Jewish visa applications was often one of intentional delay. This changed abruptly in late 1942 when the deportation of Norwegian Jews to Auschwitz served as a powerful catalyst for reform. The diplomatic initiatives led or supported by Engzell—who had previously participated in the 1938 Evian Conference—eventually empowered Swedish diplomats like Karl Ivan Danielsson and Per Anger to protect Jews in Budapest during 1944. These collective actions helped transform neutral Sweden into what has been described as a "moral superpower" within the context of the global conflict.

With a runtime of 102 minutes and featuring a talented ensemble cast including Jonas Karlsson and Marianne Mörck, the film aims to cement Gustav Engzell’s modest yet decisive contributions in the public consciousness. The narrative emphasizes how an individual's civic courage can have a monumental humanitarian impact, offering a parallel to more famous accounts like Raoul Wallenberg’s rescue missions in Hungary. The film's availability on Netflix starting February 19, 2026, ensures that this previously obscure chapter of Swedish history reaches a worldwide audience, honoring those who chose action over apathy.