The Obsession: A War Story is an audio documentary about love, war, lies and the silences passed down through generations. Arne Øland grew up without knowing his father, while his mother refused to speak about her past. When a fragment of the secret finally slips out, Arne begins a painful search for his origins – a search tied to one of the darkest chapters in Danish history: the Nazi occupation. As he discovers that thousands of children were left behind by German soldiers, without fathers and burdened by inherited shame, Arne’s quest becomes a confrontation with both his family and the Danish authorities. Followed over 13 years by documentary maker Anne Pilegaard Petersen, who is also part of the family, the story asks what family really means. 

The piece received a Special Commendation in the Audio Documentary category at PRIX EUROPA 2024.