back

A Prayer for the Dying

Perspectives 2026
© Łukasz Bąk
In 1870, the town of Friendship, Wisconsin, is enduring a dry, hot summer. The small town revolves around Jacob Hansen (Johnny Flynn), a hero of the American Civil War who, in spite of his many accomplishments, is unable to cast off the violence and darkness of his past as a soldier. Feeling compelled to atone for the wrongs he has committed, Jacob takes on the responsibility not only of providing for his young family but also of serving as sheriff, undertaker and pastor for Friendship. He thus considers Friendship to be under his protection – a claim that comes to haunt him when the town is hit by an epidemic that the town’s doctor (John C. Reilly) cannot contain. As every decision becomes a choice between two evils, Jacob is increasingly haunted by his war-ridden past. It is unclear how much longer he can continue in his self-imposed role as the town’s protector or whether he will ever be able to forgive himself for what he has done. A Prayer for the Dying is a powerful account of the choices we must make when disaster strikes and everything we hold dear, including faith, family and community, is shaken to its very core.
by Dara Van Dusen (Director, Screenplay)
with Johnny Flynn, John C. Reilly, Kristine Kujath Thorp, Gustav Lindh Norway / Greece / United Kingdom / Sweden 2026 English 95' Colour World premiere | Debut film

With

  • Johnny Flynn (Jacob)
  • John C. Reilly (Doc)
  • Kristine Kujath Thorp (Marta)
  • Gustav Lindh (Harlow)

Crew

Director Dara Van Dusen
Screenplay Dara Van Dusen
Cinematography Kate McCullough
Editing Fredrik Morheden
Music Beata Hlavenkova
Sound Design Gustaf Berger, Jesper Miller
Production Design Hubert Pouille
Costumes Jan Kocman
Make-Up Ivana Nemcova
Casting Kahleen Crawford
Producer Dyveke Bjørkly Graver
Executive Producer Andrea Berentsen Ottmar
Co-Producers Vicky Miha, Fenia Cossovitsa, Tristan Goligher, Mimmi Spång, Kristina Börjeson

Produced by

Eye Eye Pictures

Oslo, Norway

Co-produced by

asterisk*

Athen, Greece

Blonde

Athen, Greece

The Bureau

London, United Kingdom

Garagefilm International

Stockholm, Sweden

Film i Väst

Trolhättan, Sweden

World Sales

New Europe Film Sales

Warschau, Poland

Anton

London, United Kingdom

Photos

Dara Van Dusen

© Hannah Chocron, Eye Eye Pictures

Born in New York, USA in 1986, the writer and director studied at the Polish National Film School in Łódź. She now lives and works in Oslo, Norway where she has received a number of development and production grants from the Norwegian Film Institute. Her short film Significant Others competed in the Cannes Cinéfondation; her most recent short, The Blind Man – an adaptation of a Bertolt Brecht short story – screened at the Nordic Panorama Film Festival and was nominated for Best Nordic Short.

Filmography

2008 Malzonkowie (Significant Others); short film · Heartbreakers; short film 2019 Den Blinde Mannen (The Blind Man); short film 2025 A Prayer for the Dying

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2026