Daybreak

Bjorn Runge's Daybreak won two prizes at Berlin 2004, and also made the selection at last year's London Film Festival. It’s a film made of 3 domestic situations, all of which reach a dramatic conclusion one night before dawn.

Bricklayer Anders neglects his wife and daughter at the expense of his work. A night spent in the company of an unloving couple forces him to question his way of thinking.

Anita (Petren) wants answers from her ex and is prepared to drop in on him and his new younger second wife, and use unorthodox methods to get to the heart of the matter.

Finally, surgeon Rickard's life is falling around him. He’s keeping many secrets from his wife and family, and inviting friends for dinner, this will be one evening that reveals a great deal especially as the couple coming round includes the woman he’s been having an affair with.

Scandinavian director Bjorn Runge skillfully interlocks the various stories leading to an ending that ties up loose ends. It’s well acted and thoroughly believable, if a little too heavy-going from start to finish and without much light relief from the tensions involved, you’re grateful as the characters are, when daybreak comes.

Matt Arnoldi