Hold-up

Nokas is the abbreviation for the central cash service Norsk Kontantservice, which delivers money to Norwegian banks. On the 5th of April 2004, eleven armed men stormed the company building in the Norwegian city of Stavanger. The men had given themselves eight minutes to carry out the robbery and take off before the police arrived. But nothing went according to plan: a gun battle ensued and human life was sacrificed in the crossfire. The fate of most of these involved is well-known today, but it doesn’t change the fact that, of the stolen 57 million Norwegian crowns, 51 million is still unaccounted for. The circumstances surrounding the biggest robbery in Norwegian history are described by director Erik Skjoldbjærg with the chilling detachment characteristic for his thriller Insomnia (1997). The events are seen through the eyes of those who were directly involved – the bank robbers, police officers and employees of the firm. The film is based on testimonies of eye-witnesses and unfolds in the places where the attack took place. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)