After the end of World War II,  the young poet Gunvor Hofmo waits for her dear friend Ruth Maier to return to Oslo.  When she learns that Ruth was killed soon after being deported,  Gunvor´s world falls apart.  As Gunvor reads Ruth's  diary, Ruth's story comes alive again: A beautiful young woman from Vienna who easily falls in love,  who cannot accept injustice nor being labelled ”a jew”.  Ruth is granted asylum in Norway,  but when the Nazis come to power there as well, she is once more in danger.  At a voluntary labour camp she meets the talented working class girl Gunvor.  They fall in love and plan to escape together. But Gunvor has obligations, and she lets her down.  When Gunvor realizes Ruth's fate, Gunvor goes amok.  She is hospitalized, with the prospect of being lobotomized. The memory of Ruth and Ruth´s diary help Gunvor escape and transform her pain into poetry.

Ruth Maier's diary is based on a true story. The diary was found after the death of the well-known poet Gunvor Hofmo,  and is now published in 9 countries. In these times of increasing racism, with the fear of refugees and ”the others”, this love story is more relevant than ever, with its underlying questions:  Can poetry survive evil,  and why was Ruth Maier killed?

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Fundings development

NFI (Stig Andersen / Wibecke Rønseth)
Norsk Kulturråd
Fritt Ord
Fond for lyd og bilde
Hummelfilm