The film is based on the true story of resistance man Max Manus (1914-1996), soldier in the company Linge in the free Norwegian forces in England and later large sabotør in Norway during the war 1940-45.

Max has been called Norway's first "hippie". He cut out the school 14 years old, went to his uncle in Cuba, and continued later to Chile where he make their living from it by selling flowers. Later he went to the foot of the Andes mountains. In the film, we meet Max the first time during the winter war in Finland in 1940 where he fought as volunteers against the Russians. When the cease-fire was signed in March, all volunteers sent home, and Max did to come to Oslo in time to see the Germans march into the city 9 April.

After Norway kapitulerte formed it in June after every opposition groups around the country. Max was a pioneer in the resistance movement. Together with kameratene Kolbein Lauring, Gregers Gram, Gunnar Sønsteby m.fl. they stood behind Norway's first illegal newspaper WE WILL LAND U.S. ET. But the youthful courage of a "adventurer" as Max Manus did. He underestimated the Germans, and especially the Gestapo's Machiavellian and very intelligent Siegfried Fehmer. Fehmer was an interesting personality who loved Norway and then the resistance movement as a small group of terrorists who destroyed the possibility of Germans and Norwegians to live in peace and fordraglighet. Fehmer was a great lady friend with an appearance as a Hollywood star, but he was also a ruthless torturist and was executed for war crimes after the liberation in 1945.

Max was arrested in his apartment and jumped out the window resolute in 2 floor. He survived and was placed on the Ullevål hospital where he is in spite of having major damage managed to escape through the window of 3 floor. An almost incomprehensible accomplishment in his state.

Max joined the Norwegian forces in Scotland, where he hit again Gregers Gram. Together they were sent to Norway where they are behind a series of daring ...