BARN / BEWARE OF CHILDREN

Beware of Children traces the dramatic aftermath of a tragic event in a middle-class suburb of Oslo. During a break in school 13-year-old Lykke, the daughter of a prominent Labour Party member, seriously injures her classmate Jamie, the son of a high-profile right-wing politician. When Jamie later dies in hospital, contradicting versions of what actually happened risks making a difficult and traumatic situation worse. Was it only innocent play behind? The school’s staff and parents must navigate this situation, which is made more difficult by the web of relationships that link them, and their conflicted loyalties and secrets.

Dag Johan Haugerud (1964) is a Norwegian writer, screenwriter, director and librarian. In addition to his studies in librarianship, he holds a bachelor’s degree in film studies from the University of Stockholm, a degree in dramaturgy from the University of Oslo, and a degree in creative writing from Telemark University. As a journalist and dramatist, he collaborated with different theatre houses. He is the author of four novels. His directorial debut came with the short film 16 Living Clichés (1998). His first feature film I Belong (2012) won the Norwegian Critics’ Prize and four Norwegian Amanda awards. With Beware of Children, he competed in the prestigious Venice Film Festival sidebar Giornate degli Autori in 2019.