Three stories are told concurrently: Nina (Bahar Pars) tries to escape the cultural stranglehold that her family’s patriarch has on her; successful journalist Carina (Lia Boysen) tries to cover up the fact that her husband is beating her; and a restaurant owner (Per Graffman) is called as a witness after a shooting but realizes that his family is in danger.

A dark portrait of Sweden, perhaps, partially inspired by real-life incidents, but director Anders Nilsson chooses hope as a theme that binds these stories together.

At least one scene is so shocking it’s bound to horrify audiences; others are more clichéd, but as a whole it’s still relevant and touching.

2006-Sweden. 134 min. Color. Widescreen. Written and directed by Anders Nilsson. Cast: Oldoz Javidi (Leyla), Lia Boysen (Carina), Reuben Sallmander (Aram), Per Graffman, Peter Engman, Bahar Pars, Nisti Stêrk, Christopher Wollter, Annika Hallin, Nour El Refai, Anja Lundqvist, Bibi Andersson, Tomas Bolme, Ralph Carlsson.

Trivia: Original title: När mörkret faller.

Last word: “What I noticed was how strongly I felt that the work was vital. It became much more urgent after meeting Maria [Carlshamre, the journalist who inspired the character of Carina] and listening to what she had been through. The character is a composite of her and other people close to me who have experienced violence”. (Boysen, Aftonbladet)