It is a co-production of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Ireland,[1][5] and was selected as the Norwegian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards.

[8] The film focuses on King Haakon VII and the Norwegian royal family in the days before and immediately after the German invasion of Norway in April 1940.

Despite having received no instructions from Oslo to engage, Eriksen considers the German ship to be hostile and gives the order to fire, and the fortress's guns and torpedo battery sink the Blücher.

Nasjonal Samling leader Vidkun Quisling proclaims himself Prime Minister over the national radio, and calls upon the Norwegian people to accept the German occupation forces.

As German troops advance towards Hamar, the royal family and the Cabinet relocate to Elverum, where the decision is made to send Olav's wife and three children to Sweden while the King and the Crown Prince remain in the country.