Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender in ”The Light Between Oceans”; Dreamworks(NEW YORK) — Based on the novel of the same name by M.L. Stedman, The Light Between Oceans stars Michael Fassbender as Tom Sherbourne, a World War I veteran who takes a job as a lighthouse keeper on a small island. Before he does, he meets Alicia Vikander’s Isabel. Before long, the grizzled war veteran who thought he was no longer capable of feeling, falls in love with blithe spirit that is Isabel, and…
At this early point, I am almost bored to tears. Even so, I’m slightly intrigued by Fassbender, whose tortured soul does gymnastics behind his steely eyes and stoic veneer. It’s the mark of an incredible actor to express so much pain with so few facial expressions. You’ll also find yourself a bit preoccupied with cinematographer Adam Arkapaw’s gorgeous Merchant Ivory aesthetic. The film’s look is practically a character itself.
Yet at the same time, nothing’s happening other than two people slowly falling in love. But that turns out to be a slow burn and epic setup for a gut-wrenching chain of events that confounds in a way only a well-told cinematic story can.
Without giving too much away, Isabel has a couple of miscarriages. I could probably write several pages about how well Vikander, Fassbender and director/screenwriter Derek Cianfrance portray these awful events. While Isabel’s suffering through her second post-miscarriage trauma, a rowboat washes up on the island, carrying a dead man and a living baby girl, apparently his daughter.
Isabel convinces Michael that the right thing to do is to keep the girl and pass her off as the baby they were supposed to have. Since they’re alone on the island, their family and friends on the mainland will never know. You’ll have to see the movie to find out what happens next.
About an hour into this film, it becomes apparent why it’s called The Light Between Oceans. It’s referring to the flickering light coming from the screen that you can scarcely see through the ocean of tears you shed. Good grief — I haven’t cried this much at a movie since my brother accidentally elbowed me in the nose the first time we saw The Empire Strikes Back.
This movie manipulates, but it manipulates very well. Superbly acted, well-written and beautifully filmed, I encourage you to see The Light Between Oceans.
Four out of five stars.
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