What Lies Between Us

Drama

In cinemas 1w later · Theatrical Sep 24, 2026 (DK)

★ Shortlisted by Sharon

Programme: Discovery
Year: 2026
Runtime: 105 min
Country: Denmark
Language: Danish
Premiere: World Premiere
In cinemas: Sep 24, 2026 (DK)

A quiet suburban community is shaken by the alleged sexual assault of a teenage boy by two of his peers. As the town reels, successful real estate agent Anne Sofie discovers her own son may be more involved than she imagined. Determined to protect him and the family's reputation, she makes a choice that sets her on a collision course with the other boys' mothers, Sarah and Ulrikke. As accusations against her son begin to spread, the pressure mounts and to shield her family, Anne Sofie pins the blame on one of the other boys. But as her relationships fracture and her moral compass wavers, she’s forced to make a life-altering decision.

From the TIFF programme

From Danish director Amalie Næsby Fick and a cast led by Sidse Babett Knudsen comes a compelling cautionary tale about the ethical and moral boundaries a parent may cross in order to protect a child.

The question of how far a parent will go to protect a child can lead to discomfiting answers. For proof, look no further than What Lies Between Us, director Amalie Næsby Fick’s provocative and gripping drama about a community riven both by accusations of a shocking act and by the reactions and decisions of three embroiled mothers that could change many lives going forward.

In a well-to-do Danish suburb, realtor Anne Sofie (Sidse Babett Knudsen) and shop owner Sara (Sofie Gråbøl) enjoy a close friendship that’s deeply intertwined with their respective family lives. Ulrikke (Asta Kamma August), the single mother of a newcomer to the tennis club where Anne Sofie’s teenaged son trains, is eager to get connected. But when details emerge about a potential sexual assault involving the three women’s sons, lines are swiftly drawn, with Anne Sofie proving remarkably tenacious at defending what’s hers.

One of Nordic cinema’s most formidable performers thanks to stellar work in the TV hit Borgen and films such as The Duke of Burgundy (TIFF ’14) and Limbo (TIFF ’20), Knudsen brings her customary fierceness and intelligence to a character whose maternal propensities drive her toward a moral breaking point. She’s matched at every turn by Gråbøl (TIFF ’25’s The Last Viking) and August (also at this year’s Festival in Growth of the Soil). Working from the layered yet expertly paced screenplay by Sara Jønsson and Nikolaj Arcel (The Promised Land, TIFF ’23), Næsby Fick makes a confident transition from animation and television to live-action features. With What Lies Between Us, she presents viewers with a compelling, timely story about the boundaries of love, ethics, and loyalty.

JASON ANDERSON

Content advisory: coarse language, bullying, mature themes, themes of sexual assault