Beginnings (2025)

Drama | 12+

This film premiered in the Panorama section of the Berlinale, where it was praised for its understated intensity.

The story centres on Ane (Trine Dyrholm) and Thomas (David Dencik), a married couple who are carefully planning their divorce. They have even already decided when they will tell their daughters Clara (Björk Storm) and Marie (Luna Fuglsang Svelmøe). But then Ane, a successful marine biologist, suffers a stroke that leaves her partially paralysed. The planned split is put on hold; Thomas is forced to stay at home to look after her. What follows is not a conventional rehabilitation drama, but a poignant portrait of two people who must re-establish their relationship. Old irritations do not disappear, hidden feelings come to the surface, and the daughters, too, sense very keenly that there is more at play than just illness.

What makes ‘Beginnings’ special is the way Nordahl keeps the drama understated. No grand emotional outbursts or sentimental music, but glances, silences and subtle shifts in body language. Dyrholm is phenomenal: she does not portray Ane as a victim, but as a woman who is furious with her own body and with the dependence forced upon her. Her physical performance – the laboured steps, the wry smile – never feels like a ploy for effect, but like a lived reality. Dencik provides a skilful counterpoint as a man balancing between a sense of duty and emotional exhaustion. The film really shows its strength in scenes at the kitchen table, where everyday conversations suddenly take a turn. The cinematography is observational and intimate, bringing the viewer almost inappropriately close to the action.

There are actresses who play a part, and there are actresses who carry a film. Trine Dyrholm undeniably belongs to the latter category. For decades, she has been regarded as the crown jewel of Danish cinema. She is a performer who switches effortlessly between raw realism and quiet intensity.

Director: Jeanette Nordahl
Cast: Trine Dyrholm, David Dencik, Johanne Louise Schmidt
Running time: 96 minutes