Magnus B. B. Lysbakken

Magnus B. B. Lysbakken is a writer, director and cinematographer, working in the intersection between fiction and documentary. He started his career in the Danish film industry, where he made his screenwriting debut with the feature film LOVERS in 2017, directed by Niels Kaa. In 2022 he graduated from the Norwegian Film School with a master’s degree in Directing Fiction, specializing in working with youth and combining film production with social outreach. He also holds a BA in Film Science and a BA in Comparative Literature from the University of Copenhagen. Magnus’ films explore the social dynamics of small communities, with a special emphasis on the relationship between children and adults.

The Rhythms

LIM | Less is More 2023

We’re in a Norwegian suburb in the middle of winter. The days are short and devoted to school, the nights are long and full of mystery. Musling, an eight-year-old boy, lives with his father in a tall apartment block near the woods. There’s been an accident in the suburb, and Musling and his friends are obsessing over death. At a sleepover they pretend to be parents mourning their dead child, and in the woods they take turns pressing each other’s chests until they faint. But Musling’s curiosity is tinged with personal fear; he spends restless nights checking that his father is still breathing, and he’s afraid of being alone. After learning that his teacher Pia had a short-lived relationship with his father, Musling starts seeking an intense physical intimacy from her, but she can’t give it to him.