When the Light Breaks

When the Light Breaks

Year: 2024

Runtime: 80 mins

Language: Icelandic

Director: Rúnar Rúnarsson

Drama

When the light breaks on a long summer’s day in Iceland. From one sunset to another, Una, a young art student, encounters love, friendship, sorrow and beauty.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen When the Light Breaks yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – When the Light Breaks (2024)

Trace every key event in When the Light Breaks (2024) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Diddi and Una's budding romance and early departure

The film opens by introducing Diddi and Una in the early stage of their relationship, moving from an ocean outlook to Diddi's house. They talk in bed, and Diddi leaves early; Una overhears Gunni coming home and quietly sneaks out. A performance of lights set to Jóhann Jóhannsson's Odi et Amo unfolds into a road tunnel scene that ends with a massive fireball, signaling catastrophe.

early morning Diddi's house and a road tunnel in Iceland
2

Tunnel disaster unfolds

The camera reveals the tunnel disaster as the lights sequence culminates in a fiery explosion. The event is presented as Iceland's worst tunnel tragedy, setting the day’s mood of shock. The tunnel sequence foreshadows the emotional turmoil the friends will confront as they learn who survived and who did not.

morning Iceland road tunnel
3

Morning at arts college: Diddi's fate discussed

Una and Gunni meet at the arts college where they study with Diddi. Una has not yet heard about the tunnel disaster, and Gunni gently reveals that Diddi may have been in the tunnel. They begin to wrestle with uncertainty and responsibility.

late morning Arts college
4

Red Cross center: confirmation of Diddi's death

The friends gather at a Red Cross center to hear the grim news: Diddi has died. The mood is subdued and collective; everyone begins to mourn in a shared, quiet sense of loss. Una leaves the center unable to fully process what she has learned.

mid-morning Red Cross centre
5

Una's private moment with her father and return to friends

After a brief reconciliation with her father, Una returns to join the friends at a bar. There she meets Klara, Diddi's girlfriend, which intensifies the tension around Diddi’s private life and the grief they share. The moment marks the start of a delicate shift in how each person understands loyalty and love.

evening Bar
6

Bar revelations: Diddi's life and Una's sexuality

At the bar, Klara reveals that Diddi had told her she was a lesbian, while Una confesses she is pansexual. The discussion highlights the public face versus private life of the deceased and the complexities of mourning. The atmosphere mixes grief with hints of hidden relationships that complicate their loyalties.

evening Bar
7

Private confession: Una and Gunni discuss the affair

In a private conversation later, Gunni confirms that Una and Diddi were indeed lovers, even as Diddi had disclosed the affair to Gunni. Una wrestles with resenting Klara as the public girlfriend while secretly grieving a covert relationship. The revelation deepens the film's tension between truth, identity, and loss.

evening One of their houses
8

National mourning and impromptu service

The country falls into national mourning as the friends participate in an impromptu service at Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland's largest church. The service provides a public space for collective grief and shared memory. The scene underscores how a community responds to personal tragedy.

evening Hallgrímskirkja
9

Service exit: Klara and Una's cigarette and art debate

After the service, Klara and Una step outside for a cigarette, where Klara disparages the friends' performance art. Una counters by showing how their art can reveal additional perspectives on grief, identity, and connection. The exchange deepens the contrast between public mourning and private experience.

late evening Hallgrímskirkja grounds
10

Tear-filled party at a friend's house

The party becomes a raw space for shared grief, with tears and awkward humor mingling in the late hours. Friends try to process their loss while confronting the fragile loyalties between Klara, Una, and Diddi's memory. The atmosphere blends intimate confession with collective sorrow.

late night One of their houses
11

Glass door moment: reflections merge

As the party ends, Una and Klara stand on either side of a glass door, their reflections merging in a quiet, symbolic moment that hints at a new closeness. The image carries a sense of unresolved tension and potential connection amid memory and mourning.

late night House, near a glass door
12

Ending: bed scene and opening sequence reference

The film ends with Una and Klara lying close together in bed, mirroring the opening sequence's intimacy. The closing image is paired with a final repetition of Odi et Amo as lights on water reflect the setting sun on the ocean, linking the day’s start and end. The scene leaves their futures open but suggests a fragile new connection amid memory and mourning.

night Bedroom

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:22

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Explore Movie Threads

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Movies about intimate grief like When the Light Breaks

Films that observe the quiet, intimate aftermath of a personal tragedy.If you appreciated the quiet, sorrowful atmosphere of When the Light Breaks, explore more movies that capture the intimate and contemplative side of grief. These films prioritize emotional authenticity and a slow, observational pace over plot-driven drama, creating a space for reflection on loss.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern focuses on the immediate aftermath of a loss, often unfolding over a short period. The plot is minimal, serving as a framework to explore the characters' internal emotional states, unspoken sorrows, and the subtle ways their relationships shift as they navigate a new, painful reality.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative revolves around characters who are indirectly connected through a deceased person or a shared traumatic event. Their journey involves navigating secrets, unacknowledged relationships, and the awkward, painful process of finding solace in someone who understands their unique sorrow, often without a clear or happy resolution.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific emotional dynamic: the formation of a delicate bond between people linked by loss. They are united by a bittersweet tone, a focus on emotional honesty over dramatic confrontation, and an exploration of how grief can simultaneously isolate and connect people.

Unlock the Full Story of When the Light Breaks

Don't stop at just watching — explore When the Light Breaks in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what When the Light Breaks is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

When the Light Breaks Summary

Read a complete plot summary of When the Light Breaks, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

When the Light Breaks Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in When the Light Breaks

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape When the Light Breaks. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in When the Light Breaks

When the Light Breaks Spoiler-Free Summary

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When the Light Breaks Spoiler-Free Summary

More About When the Light Breaks

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about When the Light Breaks: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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