Director Romed Wyder

Screenplay Billy MacKinnon based on the novel by Elie Wiesel

Cast Joel Basman, Moris Cohen, Sarah Adler, Liron Levo, Rami Heuberger, Jason Isaacs

Music Bernard Trontin Editing Kathrin Plüss Production design Roger Martin Director of photography Ram Shweky Line Producer Tunje Berns Producers Samir, Romed Wyder

Production Paradigma Films, Dschoint Ventschr, Delirious Productions, Enigma Films, Radio Télévision Suisse / SSR SRG

ISAN 0000-0003-6C44-0000-W-0000-0000-F

Fiction – 95 min. – Switzerland / United Kingdom / Germany – 2014

Synopsis

Dawn is a psychological drama behind closed doors, in which four comrades in arms pressure the young Elisha to overcome his moral qualms and fully commit to the armed struggle.

The story is set in Palestine in 1947, during the British mandate period. The Zionists are fighting for the establishment of a Jewish state. A member of the armed Jewish underground has been sentenced to death by the British authorities. In return, the resistance has kidnapped a British officer, trying to redeem their friend. The insurgents spend the night together, waiting for the outcome of the negotiation. If the British hang their friend at dawn, one of them will shoot the British officer held as a hostage.

Based on the novel by Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, Dawn sheds a new light on a key moment in history that allows us to re-examine the current political disputes.

Trailer

Press quote

A gripping and uncomfortable drama.

– Norbert Creutz, Le Temps

A sharp and powerful film.

– Giorgia del Don, Cineuropa.org

Stunning and finely directed actors.

– Claire Burgy, 12h45, RTS

Intense, oppressive, ambiguous - highly topical.

– Lory Roebuck, Aargauer Zeitung

Joel Basman is simply wonderful.

– Pascal Gavillet, La Tribune de Genève

Awards

Award of Excellence at International Film Festival for Peace Jakarta

Special Jury Award at International Film Festival for Peace Jakarta

Prix Walo Best actor Joel Basman

 

Festivals

Miami, Solothurn, Palm Beach, Washington, Atlanta, Marseille, London, Jakarta, Waterloo, New York, Tel Aviv, Florida, Cape Ann, Vienna