A Danish wine merchant captured as a resistance fighter during WW2, struggles to survive in a concentration camp while his wife conspires with 'anti-Nazi' Gestapo to obtain his release.

SYNOPSIS:

Berlin. 1925. The buildings are worn, damaged. The streets have bike riders, few cars. Pedestrians reflect the malnourished effects caused by their country’s defeat after WWI. The main character, PAUL, (Danish, 20) and his German friend, HANS, (21) have just graduated from distiller training at the Fachschule Villa and are ready to make their fortunes. After celebrating, Paul goes to Paris, lands a job as a wine merchant, and meets a vivacious French woman, RAYDY.

Paul is sent to South America to sell Bordeaux wines, writes letters to Raydy. In Curacao, Paul meets FRITZ, a 45-year-old German who fought in WW1. Fritz tells Paul about being on the front on Christmas eve, 1914, when German and British soldiers sang Christmas carol’s, then laid down their arms to walk past barbed wire, shake hands. Fritz tells Paul, “Hate is a funny thing. When people meet and become friends, it is hard to turn them against each other.” Paul returns to Paris, marries Raydy.

Fast forward to 1939. Paul and Raydy have two daughters. They listen to Hitler on BBC radio, calling for, “One People, One Empire, One leader.” April 9th, 1940, Paul and Raydy wake to see war planes with Swastikas painted on them fly over their house. German soldiers show up in all Danish cities, occupy the streets, try to politely blend in to the communities. The Danes ignore them.

March 1943. BBC radio announces; “American soldiers continue to assist our British boys fighting the Nazi War Machine…” The end of war seems certain, but food supplies in Denmark remain rationed while German soldiers eat well. Angered into action, Paul takes the last of their sugar to Copenhagen, hides next to a military truck, unscrews the gas cap. Across the street a crowd of men, women and children sing Danish national songs in front of shopfronts. An explosion lights up the night. German soldiers rush into the streets. The crowd runs, take cover where they can find it. Paul is pulled into a pharmacy by his friend, SKIPPER. Skipper invites Paul to join the resistance.

Paul sends his daughters to live with friends in the country, offers his home as a safe house. Raydy refuses to leave her husband, helps Paul assist Jewish families escape to Sweden. Paul takes on more risk, becomes a member of the Free Council, assists radio operators who parachute into Denmark, takes in an American pilot whose plane was shot down over Bremen.

With Danish informers willing to turn neighbors in for money, Raydy becomes a trusted ally, joins Paul on a mission to bring parachuted radio-phones into Copenhagen. At the Randers train station luggage room, Paul waits to pick up a radio. An S.S. officer notices Paul, approaches. Paul pulls Raydy in for a kiss. The S.S. officer keeps walking. At the Randers wine department, the manager questions the package Paul wants to place in an empty crate returning to the Copenhagen branch. Paul tells him it is a wedding present for a friend. The manager helps them wrap the package more securely in the crate.

June 1944. Restrictions are tighter in response to ongoing sabotages across the country. The Free Council orders all sections to avoid fighting. The Danes go on strike instead. Shops, utility offices, railroad stations, and factories close until an agreement is reached to abolish curfew, and stop executions. At night, bon fires and barricades line the streets. German trucks pull up, disperse soldiers in all directions. Sporadic machine gun fire is heard from different locations. Demonstrators are killed, wounded. Resistance members are captured, beaten until other member names are revealed. Paul is warned to leave his home.

Paul and Raydy rent a beach cottage with their daughters. Paul has one last mission to meet a man named HOLGER at the Copenhagen train station. Meanwhile, at his apartment, Holger wraps a gun using crumpled parcel paper from the trash. At the train station, Gestapo find the wrapped parcel on a cloakroom counter, unwrap the gun, see Holger’s name and address on flip side of parcel paper.

Holger is caught, interrogated at Shellhouse (Gestapo headquarters), divulges Paul’s name. Paul is arrested. Kriminal Assistent KESSELMODE interrogates Paul, who reveals nothing. Paul is beaten by Nazi-Dane, BIRKEDAL HANSEN, remains silent. Gestapo raid the beach cottage. Under the treat of a knife, Raydy reveals nothing. When Gestapo leave, she sends her daughters to the train station and the road leading into town to warn their father, unaware Paul has already been arrested.

Paul is sent to Vestre Prison, reunites with Skipper, learns resistance members are once again being executed. Raydy goes to Shellhouse, runs into Hans, who is alerted to Paul’s arrest. HERMANSEN, the German handling Paul’s case, declines Raydy’s request to speak with him. Paul and Skipper are transferred to Frøslev internment camp. Raydy visits Paul, tells him she hired lawyer, MICHAEL REUMERT, who believes his release from custody was impossible, but upon her insistence, agreed to go to Shellhouse. Paul and Skipper are sent to Neuengamme concentration camp.

Reumert tells Raydy Dr. Hoffman at Shellhouse may help her for a price. At Neuengamme, Paul is worked hard and beaten. Reumert tells Raydy Dr. Hoffman is not willing to take the risk, but another German called Mr. X, who successfully released other prisoners from Neuengamme with false paperwork is willing to try and assist her husband.

Winter in Neuengamme is harsh. Paul, in failing health, fears he will not survive. Reumert tells Raydy Mr. X wants her to bring him a note from her doctor attesting that Paul suffers from gall bladder stones and needs an operation, warns her it is vital that Paul not find out. Ruemert goes to a magazine stand, puts the doctor note inside a magazine, sets it back on the rack, walks away. Hans, in civilian clothes, approaches the stand, buys the magazine.

The Obersturmführer at Neuengamme tells Paul he is free to return to Denmark. When another prisoner tells Paul he is not going home but being transferred to Frøslev for further interrogation, Paul is confused, makes plans to escape from the train taking him to Denmark. That night Hans sits at a table in back of a bar, hands over the doctor note to a MAN, (Mr. X), who sits in shadow. Next day, Paul panics when told he will return to Denmark by car, is then relieved when he meets Raydy at the Danish Red Cross before his transfer to Frøslev. Paul tells her his transfer to Frøslev is a mistake. Raydy stresses; “You must remember you are officially sick and waiting for an operation. Do not attract attention to yourself.” Paul tells her he already sent a letter to Shellhouse alerting Hermansen to the fact he continues to be held as a prisoner. Raydy fears Paul has exposed/ruined Mr. X’s plan.

Paul returns to Frøslev, is not interrogated or operated on. At Shellhouse, Hans gives Dr. Hoffman prisoner release forms to sign...with Paul’s form secretly added to the stack, then enters Hermansen's empty office. Hans sees Paul’s unopened letter on the desk, hears Kesselmode's voice in the hall, slips the letter in his pocket. Paul is released from Frøslev. On the train home Paul learns German Patrols are asking departing train passengers for identification papers and then arresting the men without cause. Danish teenagers ask Paul to depart the train with them at a small station and ride in the back of their friend’s ambulance. They are pulled over at a roadblock, detained, then released.

Paul and Raydy seek refuge at a seaside town, ride bikes past German street patrols, are nervous Paul will be arrested for paperwork signed off on false pretenses. Paul goes to Shellhouse to be signed off on the release list so his case will be closed. Raydy accompanies him. Paul is certain he did the right thing. Raydy is not. Birkedal Hansen sees Paul exit Shellhouse, hands Kesselmode his file that reveals Dr. Hoffman released Paul by mistake. Kesselmode blames Hermansen for preparing the paperwork. Hermansen says he did so only after Dr. Hoffman reviewed the case. Furious, Kesselmode orders Paul’s arrest. The next day, Paul walks home with a newspaper, sees Birkedal Hansen across the street from his house, waiting with men in suits. Resistance members help Paul escape to Sweden. Mr. X warns Raydy about her ordered arrest, she escapes. Mr. X is revealed as (anti-Nazi) Hermansen!

Paul, English and American officers, review the Shellhouse air-raid attack. The bombing on Shellhouse allows Danish prisoners in the attic to escape, almost kills Hans. Germany capitulates.

One year later, Paul and his family arrive at the Baltimore Immigration Processing Station. His youngest daughter’s documentation is incorrect. Not allowed to enter, she must return to Denmark. No longer the impulsive adventurer, Paul calmly addresses the officer; “We have all been through so much in the war. Please, my friend, will you allow my daughter to stay in this country?” The immigration officer regards the family a beat, stamps her document; “Welcome to America.”