For freedom and justice

Set against the 1820s through 1849 when Denmark finally grants a free constitution, the film sketches a nation on the edge of change. Through the life of a fictional man named Rasmus Nielsen, we follow a traveling educator who moves through several roles as he travels the countryside, teaching and serving in different public positions. As he goes from town to village, we see classrooms, markets, farms, and small towns where ordinary people cope with poverty, hardship, and ambition. The audience discovers how social conditions shape politics and how ideas about rights and governance filter down to everyday life. At the center stands Orla Lehmann, a real life political figure who embodies the era's reformist energy without dominating the screen.

Directed by Svend Methling, the film draws on Leck Fischer's concept to recreate Denmark's atmosphere in the period before 1849. It reflects a postwar effort to stage national history on screen and to pair it with a strong ensemble acting.

Box office figures for this 1949 Danish production are not publicly documented, though it clearly circulated in major national theaters and provincial venues, helping to shape audience expectations and contributing to the era's ongoing dialogue about reform and national identity.

Orla Lehmann's presence anchors a film that links private lives to public reform, a hallmark of mid century Danish cinema. The work contributes to a tradition of using intimate settings to illuminate political change and to remind audiences of a pivotal constitutional moment, inviting reflection. It resonates with viewers today.

Critics interpret the film as a careful portrayal of a society moving toward constitutional government, balancing social reality with national pride. The central character's experiences highlight class tension and the drive for broader rights while keeping a respectful view of historical context, and inviting audiences to consider what change meant.