Claes Bang Takes On a Complex WWII Figure in New Historical Drama

Danish actor Claes Bang is starring in ‘I Is Another’, a historical drama that challenges long-held claims about Felix Kersten, Heinrich Himmler’s personal massage therapist. The film, directed by Felix Randau, will premiere at the 2026 Locarno Film Festival and is expected to reignite debate about one of World War II’s most controversial figures.

For decades, Kersten has been celebrated as a hero who used his close relationship with the Nazi leader to rescue thousands of concentration camp prisoners. But ‘I Is Another’ takes a different approach, portraying him as a morally complex character whose postwar account of his wartime actions may have been greatly exaggerated.

Director Randau says his research uncovered evidence that contradicts several of Kersten’s most famous claims. Rather than presenting definitive answers, the film examines how Kersten crafted a narrative to rehabilitate his image after the war.

Bang, known for roles in ‘The Square’ and ‘Bad Sisters’, plays Kersten as a charismatic but manipulative man. The film follows him on a 1952 train journey to Norway, where journalist Hedda Pachner—played by Valerie Pachner—confronts him about inconsistencies in his story.

What starts as an interview becomes a psychological showdown as Kersten defends his version of history while Hedda systematically challenges the evidence behind his claims.

Randau’s research suggests Kersten concealed significant details about his Nazi connections, including his SS membership. While the director acknowledges Kersten may have saved some lives, he found little evidence supporting the claim that he rescued thousands.

The film taps into broader questions about how individuals reshape history to serve their own interests—a theme that resonates with today’s debates about misinformation and the reliability of historical narratives.