Juan Francisco Viruega’s opera prima first follows Alba as she returns to her hometown after a romantic breakup, and then Candela, the sister who stayed home by the side of their now terminally ill mother. Together, Alba and Candela will confront and heal childhood woonds as they accompany their mother in her last days. The striking Almería desert and sea serve as both a backdrop and a silent witness, almost like another character in the film. “Amanece” (Sunrise) is an intimate exploration of the emotions experienced when revisiting childhood places, resolving past conflicts, and finding the healing power of acceptance, leading to light and a new beginning.