Brightly Shining

Ten-year-old Ronja, who lives in Oslo with her clumsy father and older sister, has a vivid imagination and dreams of an idyllic life in a forest cabin, under the stars and far away from their small apartment. When Christmas approaches and Ronja's father is once again unemployed, she helps him find a job selling Christmas trees in the town square. For a while, their beloved father smells of pine needles instead of beer, but soon he falls back into his old habits and the sisters are left to fend for themselves again. 

This moving family film about the unbreakable bond between sisters and the power of a vivid imagination highlights the true meaning of hope, without shying away from difficult themes such as addiction – a heartwarming light in the darkness.

Brightly Shining is based on the book of the same name by Ingvild Rishøi and marks the feature film debut of director Ida Sagmo Tvedte. The film was screened at the 53rd edition of the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund, won a FIPRESCI prize at the 30th SCHLiNGEL International Film Festival in the German city of Chemnitz at the end of December, and can also be seen this year in the Youth Jury Competition at Cinekid.