Dawning

After tragedy pulls them apart, three sisters return to their childhood retreat seeking to strengthen their relationship and protect their youngest sibling from self harm. But secrets have weight—and when a stranger appears, the fragile shelter cracks open.

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Original title: Demring Year of Production: 2025 Duration: 108 min Country of Production: Norway Languages: Norwegian Subtitles: English Director: Patrik Syversen Cinematographer: Andreas Johannessen Editor: Erlend Mjømen Knudsen, Patrik Syversen Sound Design: Anders Mørk Music: Øystein Greni Producer: Patrik Syversen, Andreas Johannessen Cast: Kathrine Thorborg Johansen, Silje Storstein, Marte Magnusdotter Solem, Sigurd Myhre, Thorbjørn Harr

Dawning places us in the uneasy calm of grief. The youngest sister has survived a second suicide attempt. In the wake of this crisis, the three siblings withdraw to their family’s secluded holiday home hoping distance, routine, and silence might protect and create new bonds.

When they in addition find out that their mother has passed away, the two eldest sisters decide to shield the youngest from the truth, believing the truth might overwhelm her fragile state. The silence that was meant to protect soon thickens into secrecy, and the fragile balance between them begins to falter. As tensions rise, an unexpected visitor arrives, unsettling both the house and the bonds within it.

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Director: Dawning

Patrik Syversen (b. 1982) is a director and screenwriter, whose previous works have played international film festivals such as San Sebastian, Fantasia, Sitges, Neuchatel, Strasbourg and Fantastic Fest. His nominations include the Nordic Film and TV-fund’s prize for outstanding writing at the Göteborg Film Festival, as well as several Golden Screen Awards in Norway, and three Norwegian Critic’s awards for his work on dramatic series. Dawning is his eight film, and a return to theatrical features after a longer stint of long form drama.

Demring is my most personal film to date. I wanted to dwell on the slow undoing of what we keep hidden, and to show what happens when protection turns into isolation. Even though it deals with suffering on several levels, it's a film rooted in love.

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