Cold Case Hammarskjold (2019)

Directed by: Mads Brügger | 128 minutes | documentary

On September 18, 1961, the plane of then UN Secretary Dag Hammarskjöld crashed under suspicious circumstances in Northern Rhodesia. Hammarskjöld was a champion of self-determination for the new African republics, which made him unpopular with the old colonizers and new powers. The crash therefore gave rise to all kinds of murder plots and theories. In ‘Cold Case Hammarskjöld’, Danish filmmaker Mads Brügger (known for ‘The Ambassador’ among others) and Swedish private detective Göran Bjorkdahl try to unravel the mystery more than fifty years later. What really happened that fatal night? Was it an accident or an attack? Who left the ace of spades ‘death card’ on Hammarskjöld’s body? And if there was an attack, who planned it?

The documentary is a quest into the dark recesses of Africa’s recent past. New witnesses are heard. The fatal plane is being dug up. And incriminating documents surface with shady murder plans. The name of a mysterious paramilitary organization floats to the surface, led by a sinister Doctor Maxwell. Is he indeed behind Hammarskjold’s death?

Mads Brügger is the journalist who was also behind the groundbreaking documentary ‘The Ambassador’. In that documentary he used a character: he played the role of a businessman who wanted to get into the diamond trade with a purchased status as ambassador for Liberia. In this documentary he is just himself, but even now the temptation to perform a character seems to be present. The common thread in the documentary are scenes in which Brügger dictates his investigation into Hammarskjöld’s death to an African typist in a hotel room in a white and khaki uniform (the same ‘uniform’ of Dr. Maxwell). The woman writes the story on a typewriter and looks more and more surprised as the story takes on more fantastic forms.

Another important figure in the documentary is Bjorkdahl, who, incidentally, only plays a supporting role on screen. Bjorkdahl spent years investigating the death of the UN secretary and has uncovered many of the questionable circumstances surrounding Hammarskjöld’s death. His work forms the basis of the documentary.

A murder mystery is a great feature for a documentary. But for the viewer it is important that a clear culprit – or at least a main suspect – is identified. The documentary makers do. But at the same time they also have the greatest difficulty in really proving their traces and theories. People don’t want to talk. And can the authenticity of certain documents be confirmed?

During the film, in addition to new evidence, we also see frustration from the documentary makers. There are indications of all kinds of obscure things, but the search is far from over. And it remains to be seen whether the mystery will indeed be unraveled. Perhaps Brügger himself thinks that the documentary has failed, because he was unable to complete the story. ‘Who is Hammarskjold anyway? Only old people know who that is,’ he says halfway through the film.

Yet ‘Cold Case Hammarskjöld’ is certainly very successful. This documentary is above all an attempt to discover the truth. And it is therefore preferable to leave much open for a critical viewer than to present impure evidence with great certainty. That is to the credit of the makers. And this documentary goes further than just a whodunit. ‘Cold Case Hammarskjöld’ shines a light on a dark side of Africa, where not all criminals are punished.