A Prayer for the Dying
Dara Van Dusen’s feature debut is a visually compelling Western set in 1870 in Friendship, Wisconsin. In the settlement—a place with not much more than a general store, a church, and a handful of smallholdings—everyone ekes out the barest of existences, including Jacob (Johnny Flynn), the town’s sheriff, preacher, and undertaker. When an outbreak of diphtheria threatens the community’s stability, he and the village doctor (John C. Reilly) navigate the threat as best they know how: initially, by concealing it, hoping it will subside. But Jacob finds himself torn between his roles as a leader, a husband and father, and a Civil War veteran navigating the haunting memories of his service, as another threat, a wildfire, looms on the horizon. With striking cinematography and sound design, Van Dusen creates a world both familiar and eerily apocalyptic, driven by great central performances. It’s a notable achievement for a first-time filmmaker. —Zoë Elton
Director/s
Dara Van Dusen
Dara Van Dusen is a writer/director originally from New York City. After studying at The Polish National Film School in Lodz, her graduate film, Significant Others (2008) was selected as part of Cannes Cinefondation. Her debut feature, A Prayer for the Dying (2026) had its world premiere in the Berlinale debut competition where it received glowing reviews from The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Time Out, and more.