"The Refugee Board has considered the applicant's statement   and the repeated threats and arrests by the authorities   and the Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims documentation." "The Board is granting the applicant   a residence permit pursuant to Section 7 (2)." "What did he say?" "Does that mean they can stay?" " Yes, it does." "The Judge" "I admire you greatly, Erik." "As a human being,   as my superior, and as president of the high court." "Don't blush!" "You have made me feel like one of the family." "Well, you are!" " Thanks." "There'll be trouble if Bliadze isn't given asylum." "I've received an email from the minister for integration." "She asked me quite blatantly   to urge you to give Bliadze asylum." "She wrote "Give the man the benefit of the doubt"." "Yes ... but the Board is not a political body." "No." "She should keep her nose out of it." "I have every confidence that you will do what you think right." "Jens Christian Poulsen   what about the 50 Danish artists asking you to give Bliadze asylum?" "We look at the merits of the case." "He needs protection." " We obey the law." "Are there factors in favour of his claim?" "Are there factors against it?" "There's Bliadze!" "He's coming!" "Bliadze is a dissident." "Persecuted by the authorities." "He was assaulted; he justifiably fears reprisals; he merits asylum." "Evidence shows he murdered four families." "There is no proof." "He didn't have an alibi but the reports contain many uncertainties." "The reports are from recognized, reliable sources." "You've quoted them in other cases." " The Russians say he is a terrorist." "If we send him back they'll extradite him and execute him." "I think he should be given the benefit of the doubt." "In my mind the doubt leans the other way." "The reports are solid evidence." "If he is a killer ..." " Exactly." "We don't grant asylum to mass murderers." "May I hear Margrethe's assessment?" "He has been persecuted and he may have taken part in a massacre." "His credibility is unclear." "It puts me in a dilemma." "Dilemma?" "The man's life is in danger." " We need a verdict." "Margrethe?" "His statement is credible ..." " Let's hear Margrethe's verdict." "The papers will slaughter us and he has plenty of grounds for asylum." "Klaus, I agree with the chair." "Credible sources give us grounds to believe   that Bliadze took part in killings." "I vote for dismissal." " You can't be serious!" "That is two to one for a dismissal of his claim." "Now we'll write up our verdict." "The Board confirms the decision by the Immigration Service." "You must leave the country immediately." "Does your client understand the verdict?" "Come on, Anders." "I knew you were my girlfriend the moment I saw you." "So did I." "We will never part." "You smell of honey." "Caroline?" "Caroline?" "Caroline?" "Sergo Bliadze's condition is still critical." "We will be working with the police to investigate." "No crime apparently took place." "He doused himself in inflammable liquid and set fire to himself." "Forensic tests will be complete in a couple of days." "That's all." " Lise?" "The minister wants to see you." "Right away." " Can I phone you?" "It's Anders." "Phone me." " He tried to drown himself." "I have a couple of questions ..." "He is your son, too." "And I wondered   what if he died and you'd never seen him?" "Where is your husband?" "What are you talking about?" "Carsten is at the hospital." " We haven't seen each other for ..." "And you come here talking about suicide." "Come here!" "Don't you understand a word I'm saying?" "Tell me which hospital ..." "and I'll drop by later on." "The minister only has five minutes." "Jens Christian Poulsen is here." "I apologize for tearing you away from your work." "This meeting never took place." "How was the press conference?" " Fine." "Was the board's decision unanimous?" "No, it was two to one." "So there was doubt?" "I expect the papers will investigate." "The presidents of the two high courts both supported you for chair." "A man who could combine administration and law." "We are under considerable pressure nowadays; we must work as a team." "Indubitably." "Frankly, I am in a pinch." "Hopefully you can help me." "Hopefully." "I sent an email to the president of the High Court of Eastern Denmark." "In it I mentioned the Bliadze case and expressed my hope that ..." "In brief, it might be misinterpreted as an inappropriate communication." "As if I wanted him to put pressure on you." "There is pressure from lots of sources in all our cases." "But we must exercise damage control before it gets out of hand." "That wouldn't be in anybody's interest." "If you'll excuse me." "I am pleased we understand each other." "Yes, hello, Margrethe." "I know, but I had to give a press conference." "I stare at the phone waiting for you to call." "It's ridiculous." "I should know better." "I have to keep smoking." "If I don't I smell him and I want to throw up." "Listen, Margrethe ..." "We pronounced a verdict as usual." "It wasn't our fault that he set himself alight." "No, it wasn't." "But there was doubt." "I could have voted for asylum." "So could you, and you know it." " That's nonsense." "It isn't nonsense." "There was doubt." "Come here." "There ..." "I've got to go." "Go, then." "Just go." " Come to my place on Thursday." "For a nice dinner." "And some fine wine." "We'll have a nice dinner and some fine wine as usual." "Just go." "Thursday?" " Yes." "Refer them to our press release." "I don't want to give any interviews." "To anybody." "What's going on?" "OK, it's you?" "Lise asked me to come." "Isn't she here?" "Lise went home to get some sleep." "How is he?" "We'll be taking him home soon." "I didn't really catch what happened." "A girl ..." "She had a brain haemorrhage." "She died instantly." "He panicked." "So it wasn't his fault?" " No." "It could've happened any time." "If you really want to help him, go away." "And stay away." "Will you tell Lise I came?" "I want us to keep records of any threats   so we can draw up new security precautions." "We don't need more security." "We need more openness." "The other day I sat with you in the chair." "I watched you force a verdict from another board member." "I have experienced the same thing on other boards:" "Judges using their status and authority to push cases through." "The other day the consequences were tragic and utterly unacceptable." "Stuff and nonsense!" "We all have the integrity to resist any such pressure." "It is disturbing   to hear you dismiss a colleague's verdict   and accuse the chair of responsibility for what happened." " We are all responsible." " Not for the way applicants react." "I appreciate Klaus's concern." "But the chair didn't pressurize me." "Of course I feel dreadful about what happened." "But upon reflection my verdict would have remained the same." "Klaus has criticised me and indeed the chairmanship in general." "Do other board members have the same problems?" "We can't discuss it like this." "We must maintain the fundamental legal principles." "We must banish all talk of capricious decisions." "Of "chance" and "lotteries"." "Responsible, professional, unimpeachable processing is required." "I withdraw my complaint." "The minister summoned me to a meeting that never took place." "What did she want?" " For me not to mention that email." "She said it could be misinterpreted." " Misinterpreted?" "She was pushing!" "She needs some success or she'll be out at the next reshuffle." "Asylum for Bliadze'd have given her and the government a human face." "The media won't drop the matter." "And they see two possible "bad guys"." "Me or her." " The media go for the man." "They want a scapegoat." "They want me to go on the news." "Perhaps you've some damning material on Bliadze?" "You're suggesting I leak the details?" " No." "Just feed their curiosity." "Time to put our heart rates up." "Come on!" "Don't you think it is hard for the general public to understand   why we can't be told the reasons for dismissing Bliadze's claim?" "We are bound by professional secrecy." "The case is confidential." "In many cases there may be information   detrimental to the applicant if it emerges." "Were the three board members in agreement?" "We hear some 3 000 cases a year." "In most cases we are unanimous." "But not always." "Why didn't the minister give Bliadze a humanitarian residence permit?" "You'd have to ask the minister." "Bliadze may have taken part in a massacre in a mountain village." "Of relatives of his political opponents." "Is that why you dismissed his application?" "Our decisions are made on the basis of the applicant's statement,   information from credible sources, and any documentation available." "So information about a supposed massacre was the reason, then?" "I cannot discuss this specific case." " Thank you." "Shall we go for a walk instead?" "Is it the other day?" "The case?" "The dinner?" "The wine?" "Or my over-correct behaviour on TV?" "I didn't say you were "over-correct"." "You did the right thing." "You were discreet, accurate, and competent." "It won't work." "It never has worked between us." "That's what's so great." "I mean it." "I want to stop." "If it won't work and never has, it's business as usual." "I'm tired of the usual." "Is it because of Professor Tournesol?" " Martin is really sweet." "Sure ..." "I think it's a great idea." "I think it's fine." "I need more than the moment." "I need a past and a future." "He wants to make a life with me." "A proper life." "Yes ... it's best for us not to be seen together at the moment, too." "It's not just for the moment." "It's always like that." "It just makes me feel so alone." "You didn't mind being alone with me in Barbados." "No, that's true." "But why does it always have to be in secret?" "So far away?" "It's nothing but sex and food and wine." "There's design, too." "You forgot design." "He talks about all the things we're going to do together." "Anders, please say something!" "Anything!" "Come on, pal." "Write something." ""Talk to him"?" "I am your father, Anders." "Me!" "I am here, Anders." "I am here." "I'm standing here." "I'm right here." " Calm down, calm down!" "He came by while you were in a coma." "I want to talk to him." "Or die." "We don't say things like that." "We'll work things out." " Anders ..." "I'll be honest." "I have no feelings for him." "No, of course not." " So I can't contribute anything." ""Contribute!" "Contribute anything!"" "Anders will kill himself unless you talk to him." "So do it!" "If you think it'll help and I won't cause more trouble, I'll visit him." "Talk to him." "Let's get it over with." "Jette said you wanted a word." "I'll come back later." " No, that's all right." "They're not strict about visiting hours." "The papers are very busy." " Has anybody phoned you?" "A couple of them." "Friberg in particular." "I am not saying a word." "I respect your vote." "A decision is a decision, doubt or no doubt." "I didn't exert pressure on Margrethe." "That's one issue We don't need to agree on." "No, we don't." "Hello." "Aren't you going to sit down?" "Have you another son?" "No." "Where is your father?" " In a home." "He is very old." "I'd like to see him." "He lives in his own world." " Are you an only child, too?" "No, I have a younger brother;" "Niels." "Where is your mother?" "She is dead." "What was she like?" "Remote." "Very lonely, I think." "Are you married?" " No." "Jens Christian Poulsen speaking." "No, I don't give interviews." "I won't answer that question." "What?" "How did he set fire to himself?" "I'm not answering questions like that!" "You were there when it happened, right?" "Yes, I was." "I remember you taking that." "You like photography?" "I had a dream ..." "I walked through a wrecked house." "I came to a field." "There was a gravestone with a picture of you." "I cried." "Caroline kissed me." " The girl who died?" "Take a photo of me." "Did you look like I do?" "No." "You are yourself." "So you don't want to know who I am?" "I can't be your father, Anders." "I can't." "Now we've talked;" "I think you should talk to ... your mum and dad." "I just want to get to know you." " Yes, but ..." "Now we know who we both are." "Let's leave it at that, eh?" "Thanks." "I hope you get better." "And have a good life." "Excuse me?" "Are you looking for somebody?" "May I see Sergo Bliadze?" " Didn't I just see you on TV?" "May I see him?" "Good morning, Erik." "Are you coming?" "No, I haven't seen the papers." "Yes, they were gagged." "Yes, OK." "Same to you. 'Bye." "Chairman in love" "Come in." "You were all told to refer any enquiries from the papers to Jette." "It was a private party." "I happen to know the reporter." "We are ... used to be very close." "I had no idea it would ..." ""The chairman told the female member to make up her mind"." ""He said the case was cut and dried"." "You are also quoted as saying   "I often saw them together in the corridor"." ""They seemed very friendly"." "Why did you engage in conversation with him about the case?" "In my opinion you were determined to get his application dismissed." "And in my opinion   you and Margrethe Skov are more than just colleagues." "You are not meant to have opinions on our cases,   the members of the board, or the way they vote." "Nor to make insinuations about Margrethe Skov." "You may leave." "Get rid of her." "I agree." "What are you doing here?" " Isn't this where you live?" "Yes." "Do they know you're here?" "Your parents?" "The hospital?" "You'd better phone them; they'll be beside themselves." "Have you a mobile?" "Give me their number." " I have forgotten it." "He's with me." "In Copenhagen." "He looks fine." "Will you inform his parents?" "Fine." "Thank you." "Have you anything from your childhood?" "No, there's nothing from my childhood here." "A photo album or something?" " I'm not good at keeping things." "I am thirsty." " OK." "There's water in the kitchen." "Let the tap run a bit first." "Kim Friberg, Ekstra Bladet." " I know who you are." "You sacked a secretary   for saying you were having an affair with Margrethe Skov." "One of my staff contravened the rules and her professional secrecy." "Go back inside." "So you haven't had an affair with her?" "Just a moment." "Anders, wait in the living room." "I am not having an affair with her." "I have no more to say." " If you have, phone me." "I don't like you poking around." "It's no good, Anders." "Talk to your mum and dad." "Or the doctors." "And I expect you've got ..." "some friends?" "Come on." "Come on." "Come on, Anders." "Thank you for taking him back." "I've never been part of his life." " Perhaps that was a mistake." "It's the way it is." "And it should stay that way." "Have you told him that?" " Yes." "He collects press cuttings about you;" "takes photos of you." "He looks up to you." "You've become his ideal." "And he is happier now." "He needs you." "Don't you see?" "I think he needs you and Carsten." " He's got us." "He's trying to get things to hang together; this is about you." "Things are very tricky right now." "Get lost." "There's no harm in having dinner, Margrethe." "Yes ..." "OK." "I can't wait to see you." "Just what do you want?" "I've told you it's over." "Is this of you when your voice was breaking?" "A new kind of intimacy between us?" " It's of my son." "You have a son?" "We've known each other for five years and now you decide to tell me?" "Yes ..." "I made an agreement with his mother when he was a baby." "I hadn't seen him since." "But now he's made contact." "I ..." "I don't know ..." "I don't know what to say." "I'm telling you because I don't know what to do." "And you want some advice?" "Or ..." "Is that it?" "I suppose so." "My advice to you is to leave him alone." "Protect him." "You don't care but he does." "One day he won't know what to think." "Or what's up and what's down in his heart or mind." "I told you from day one how we'd have to meet." "So you'd know what you were agreeing to." "I can't have dinner with you." "And Martin is taking up a guest chair at Boston and I'm going with him." "Throwing in the towel?" " If you like." "Minister slaughters refugee board chairman" ""If a love affair affected the board's decision   the case must be reconsidered and the chairman must resign"." "You hadn't expected her to back you up?" "Of course she used the papers." "She has to cover her arse." "So she shifts the spotlight onto you and the board." "And as for you and Margrethe ..." "Couldn't you have shagged a secretary instead?" "I'm not having an affair with her." "You must calm things down." "I will draw up a report for the minister." "Perhaps we'd better not meet or exchange emails." "I wouldn't like to see us in a newspaper headline." "I assume you will tell me if I become a burden." "I am sure you'll know." "Write that report." "I don't want to lose my chairman." "My regards to your family." "Jens Christian Poulsen." "Niels?" "What do you want?" "Is his name Anders?" "Niels?" "Anders!" "Change gear!" "Niels?" "Well, I'll be fucked!" "I reckoned I'd smack you one right in the nose." "I thought "You shithead!" "When you get here I'll kill you!"" "You know how many times I've ripped your gust out?" "A hell of a lot of times." "So you're famous now." "Is it fun?" "Not in the slightest." " I bet it isn't; not like that." "I was caught right out when he turned up: my nephew." "I'm taking him back." "Now." "We're going to see dad." " Out of the question." "I should have smashed your face in." "Where is Niels?" " Take those things off." "What do you think you're doing?" "Seeing my uncle." "And we're going to see granddad." "You can't run away like that." "Your parents are beside themselves." "What do you know?" "Out of my way!" "There are 20 million pigs in Denmark." " And 5 million people." "A good thing the pigs don't know they're in the majority." "They can't see the sky; they can't bend their necks." "But they're smart." "Why don't they escape, then?" "They just lie there." " On top of one another." "When the butcher goes off for lunch they just snore, fight, fuck, or eat." "They want a crack at everything." "My brother, your dad,   always hid when the lorry came for them." "He once let over 200 of them out." "The old man went crazy." "You let them out?" " Then dad made him butcher one." "That changed his mind about the slaughterhouse." "Half past three ..." "I'll keep an eye out for you." "He never stops bloody talking!" " It's a bit cold for a barbecue." "Are we Vikings or what?" " Your parents are coming for you." "That was unnecessary." " He's run away from mental hospital." "There's nothing wrong with him." " Forget it." "What the heck ..." "Damn it!" "Give me a hand!" "Damn ..." "What are you playing at?" "It's not bloody funny." "Help out!" "Easy does it!" "Don't stress them out!" "Get that one." " Easy does it." "Easy, damn it!" "Easy does it!" " What are you playing at?" "No, this way!" "Is that the last one?" "Is it?" "Niels says one is missing." " Apologize to him and have a shower." "Then phone your mum and tell her we're spending the night." "Tell them you're going to talk to them again." "And we'll go to see your granddad tomorrow." "Or what?" " I've got my conditions, too." "You've got to give me some honest answers." "You're off your bloody rocker." "Sorry." "Well, none of them died." "A pork chop and a cold shower will go down a treat." "There has been a new twist in the Sergo Bliadze case." "It seems that the minister for integration, Karen Toft Jensen,   exerted pressure on the Refugee Board." "The minister wasn't available for comment." "She'll think I went to the papers." "It can hardly have been her own people; or you." "Yes ..." "I can't ..." "I'll see what I can do ..." "I said I'd see what I could do." "Yes." "OK." "Thanks." "Damn and blast it!" "Sounds serious." "Tell 'em who's boss!" "It's not as simple as that." "Is that for the papers?" " No, the ministry." "Why are they all getting at you?" "What have you done?" "I know something about him that the papers don't." "It's confidential; nobody knows but me and the two board members." "I can keep a secret." " Asylum is for the persecuted." "But not for criminals even if they're being persecuted." "So he is a criminal?" "I couldn't give him asylum with what I knew." "So you did the right thing." " I've got to finish this." "We can talk later." "Knock first" "What were you like?" "A hippie?" "Not a proper hippie." "Just different from my parents and brother." "So am I. Apart from not having a brother." "Sometimes I wondered if I'd been swapped at birth." "This room is pretty nice, actually." " What's yours like?" "A mess." "So my mum says." "Does she also walk in without knocking?" "Were you in love with her?" " Yes." "Why did you split up?" "Lots of reasons." "She wanted to have you." "I didn't." "What did you want?" "For her to have an abortion?" "I wanted to be the best in my profession." "And are you now?" "Did you ever think about me?" "About what I was like?" "When something is over ... you decide it is over." "And it's over." "And you have to be firm." "Even though it's tough." "You get over it." "I have trouble sleeping in places I don't know." "I'll sit here for a bit." "Good night." "Good night." "He calls me Jens Christian." "He calls you Jens Christian?" " It began a couple of years ago." "I can't stop him." "Fucking cow!" "Mind your tongue!" " Yes, be nice to the girls, eh?" "Hello, Jens Christian." "Who's that?" "What's your name?" "Anders." " And who's that?" "Anders's dad." "I'm getting up." "Chair." "Put me down ... down!" "My blanket, Jens Christian!" " No, we're going out." "Out?" "Give me my shoes." "They're real bitches here." "How about a smoke?" "We'll get you dressed first." " We're having coffee." "Vibeke is." "Isn't that the reporter?" "You're harassing me." "Don't come to my home or here." " We've sent somebody to Georgia." "When we have proof I want to show you first." "What did he want?" "Nothing important." "Your mum didn't live long." " No." "Vibeke!" "Vibeke!" "Vibeke!" "You again?" "Do you want to try, too?" "We're going home." "For a smoke and a cup of coffee." "Fantastic weather." "We could do with some rain." "Do you remember any of it?" "You've a lovely place here." " You lived here; it's your house." "I just wanted to make sure the minister received my report." "It's beautiful." "Have you been given your owl bag?" "My owl bag?" "What's that?" "You fill a sack with plum tree leaves." "And you can catch owls." "Was your father surprised how beautiful it was   when he got off the bus?" "A bit." "Want to smoke?" " Yes, please." "And to fly away." "I'll find a cigarette." " It's a long journey to make alone." "Hey, where are you going?" " I must tell her that." "Are you sad?" "No." "He's a nice man." "Or was." "He was not a nice man." " He was your father." "And my granddad." "Yes, your granddad." "Off you go." "Won't we be meeting again?" "We agreed." "We made a decision." "Mum will be pleased." "Let's hope so." "Stupid bastard!" "He was a vicious brute." "Senile." "Devious." "Senile pile of shit!" "He didn't mean to go senile." " You've no idea." "You weren't here." "I'll smash your fucking face in." "Stop it!" "Give me a hand." "What about the funeral?" "I'll deal with it." "I fixed it up ages ago." "What about his room at the nursing home?" "I don't want any of his old junk." "I could do with a beer." "Who the hell is that?" "I've something to show you." "My father has just died." "I apologise." " What did you find out?" "There was no massacre." "We've proof that Bliadze was never in that area." "The testimony was false." "See for yourself." "We don't have trial by newspaper in Denmark." "Our legal advisers say it's true." "If there is important new information we'll reopen the case." "We'll have to." "But it must leave a bad taste in your mouth." "Our information came from recognized sources." "But it was incorrect." "If there is new information we'll hear the case again." "You don't feel you're responsible?" " You think I wanted any of this?" "Stop it!" "You're his brother, right?" "Any opinions?" "Yes." "I'll have to go now." "I didn't do anything wrong." " Of course not." "Shall I give you a lift?" " No." "When you're up to your neck in shit don't hang your head." "How the hell did we get such faulty information from our sources?" "We look like helpless idiots." "I work standing up, so I can't offer you a seat." "A slipped disc." "Bliadze died this morning." " Yes." "The foreign ministry will inform his relatives." "If you've come to tell me you're resigning, read this first." "Minister influenced decision" "It became a question of you or me." "The papers chose me." "I am resigning." "How did they get hold of it?" "Emails easily find their way to news desks." "What would we do without the civil service?" "I am a liability to the reputation and credibility of the Refugee Board." "This business is my fault and my responsibility." "If you retire as well,   my departure will lose its value as a political signal." "You made sure the email got into the right hands." "We don't need ministers who don't know their place." "The system would cease to function." "I don't want to be part of the system." "You're a judge." "Face the fact." "That's exactly what I am doing." "You're not the only person who's made mistakes." "I know it may be hard at first." "But you'll wake up one morning and you won't even think about it." "Look around you." "Who here is even remotely interested in the case?" "You're sentimental." "Perhaps." "But I am not cynical." "I've got to go, Erik." "I gave you a helping hand." "And we ... the judicial power ... gave you a helping hand." "Goodbye, Erik." "I feel profoundly responsible for what has happened." "And profoundly impotent." "We base our decisions on facts." "On credible statements." "On recognized international sources." "But mistakes can be made." "And in this case mistakes were made." "Mistakes are inevitable   but we can improve;" "we must improve." "We must discuss frankly how we can improve." "That is the purpose of this meeting." "But first, let us observe a minute's silence   for Sergo Bliadze." "Anders!" "Anders, wait!" "Anders!" "Anders!" "Beat it!" "Get lost!" "Stop it." "Go away!" " I just want to talk to you." "And play dad?" "I don't know how." "You know fuck all about me." "What do you know about?" "Justice?" "Is it justice me being alive?" "It's good that you are alive." " Good?" "How can you be a judge and talk such shit?" "Put that stick down and we'll talk." "She shouldn't have died." " No, she shouldn't have died." "She shouldn't have died." "English subtitles Jonathan Sydenham"