Raoul Wallenberg: Missing Inaction

Directed by Brian Mait and Brad Rothschild, Raoul Wallenberg: Missing Inaction is an in-depth documentary informing and connecting viewers to the life of Rauol Wallenberg. Immediately drawing you in with a sinister opening segment, this documentary never eases its intensity as it glides through Wallenberg’s life story, incorporating interviews with his family, friends, as well as those who knew of him during his life to create a well-rounded encapsulation of who Wallenberg was and what he means to people.

Through anecdotes and reflections by several generations of his peers, viewers perhaps unfamiliar with Wallenberg will quickly feel as if they indeed knew them personally. Jake Gyllenhaal delivers an excellent performance, as he appears in the documentary only in voice, acting as the young and naive Wallenberg, reciting the letters he sent to his beloved mother during his solo travels through America. This segment in which Gyllenhaal is heavily featured brings Wallenberg to life as viewers are brought close to him, getting a glimpse of his uniquely fearless personality, hearing his innermost thoughts expressed with sincerity and care.

Wallenberg's political significance is not to be understated, he was a hero to thousands of Hungarian Jews during the devastating Nazi occupation. As a Swedish businessman and humanitarian, he worked within Sweden’s special envoy to issue protective passports to Jews seeking to flee to Sweden, enabling 100,000 Jews to enter Sweden. As the documentary highlights, Wallenberg ensured that the only requirement for a Swedish passport was a need for one, emphasising his creative use of power for good will, defying logic in his actions. After his death, his heroic acts were honoured by several world leaders including Winston Churchill, and the Raoul Wallenberg award was founded in America in 1981 to recognise acts of significant courage.

There are many questions surrounding the death of Raoul Wallenberg, which the documentary draws attention to through its striking title. Whilst Russia proclaimed he had died of a heart attack in prison, his friends and family circulated conspiracy theories of what the truth could be due to the lack of convincing evidence that this was the case. Some relatives believe he was taken as a hostage as a bargaining technique, which the documentary outlines as a convincing conclusion, rather than dwelling on the grey areas surrounding his death, the documentary spends its time creating a sublimely multi-layered picture of his life. Leaning on footage from the time, as well as real-life locations such as his birthplace, and incorporating video footage of those close to him reminiscing on their time with him, viewers are engulfed by a fully rounded image of the man with so many questions surrounding him.

The film’s visual structure is marvellously captivating, incorporating a multitude of clips and images of sources and moments in history to engage those watching, pulling you into the world of his life. As well as this, Wallenberg’s significance as a historical figure is solidified through the incorporation of a visual timeline to represent Wallenberg’s actions and their importance alongside major events during the war.

Raoul Wallenberg: Missing Inaction is a truly dedicated documentary. No detail is brushed over or spared as viewers are plunged into the life and historical significance of this remarkable man. Heartfelt narratives are layered, the tone shifting as the documentary moves through several perspectives, allowing the viewer a full picture of all of the facts involved in Wallenberg’s disappearance, indicating that the truth may be much darker than previously believed. The documentary does precisely what is necessary of it, to vigorously inform and allow the viewer to make their own judgement with the evidence and perspectives available. Whatever this conclusion may be, the documentary is a thrilling, compelling, and vastly intriguing watch about a key part of recent history, executed through a fantastic ever-growing medium.

Raoul Wallenberg: Missing Inaction screened at the 2026 Palm Springs Film Festival.