‘The Light Between Oceans’ – Review
In The Light Between Oceans, director Derek Cianfrance (The Place Beyond The Pines) takes audiences to the very edge of love in an emotionally raw piece of cinema.
The real life dream-couple of Fassbender and Vikander completely give themselves over to their love swept characters, Thomas Sherbourne and Isabel Graysmark, who meet following the end of WWI and marry. While initially happy, a series of tragedies rob the pair of hope, until an unexpected miracle in the form of a baby lost at sea arrives. Naming the child Lucy, they decide to raise her as their own, a decision which bring infinite joys. But this happiness is the result of a grand secret, and it soon begins to tear a hole in the loving family that they have formed.
As always, Fassbender never falters in his performance. There is a consistent melancholy and sadness in his performance as Tom, with the feeling that he’ll never let go of his past. Working alongside Fassbender is Alicia Vikander, and while she may have won an Academy Award for The Danish Girl, I would argue that her performance in The Light Between Oceans is her most sincere and raw offering yet.
Providing support to these two phenomenal performers is Rachel Weisz in the role of Hannah Roennfeldt, Lucy’s real mother, who delicately walks the line between villainous and traumatised mother. Finally, Australian cinematic legend Bryan Brown provides a sense of sage wisdom that leads to the redemption of all three characters as Septimus Potts, father to Hannah, and grandfather to Lucy.
Aside from its incredible cast, The Light Between Oceans is carried by both a moving soundtrack from composer Alexandre Desplat, and the striking cinematography of Adam Arkapaw, whose beautiful, rough imagery is like an oil painting come to life.
The Light Between Oceans is a wonderful watch that will surely draw tears from your eyes before the credits begin to roll. Bring tissues.
Image source: EOne.
