The Light Between Oceans

The Light Between Oceans is a captivating 2016 movie directed by Derek Cianfrance, with stellar performances from its main cast, which include Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Rachel Weisz.

Based on the 2012 novel of the same name by M.L. Stedman, the film gorgeously captures a profound and complex story of love, loss, and dreadful moral dilemmas amid majestic scenic backdrops. The screenplay skillfully adapted from the original text carefully treads the line between endearing relationships and the moral dilemmas that arise from our most desperate decisions.

The plot revolves around a lighthouse keeper and his wife living off the coast of Western Australia in the early decades of the 20th century. Michael Fassbender plays Tom Sherbourne, a war-weary veteran yearning for solitude who takes up a post as a lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, a remote island off the coast of Australia. Here he finds physical isolation from the world, carrying out his duties with near-mechanical diligence. He meets Isabel Graysmark (played by Alicia Vikander) on one of his rare visits to the mainland, and the chemistry between them is instantaneous. The rugged lighthouse keeper and the vibrant young woman soon marry and return together to the isolating, but beautiful, lifestyle that is Janus Rock.

Their life is one of simple delights, bound by love and enriched by the stunning beauty of their surroundings. Yet their happiness hits a rocky shore when they face repetitive personal tragedies that leave Isabel in a drastic state of grief and melancholy.

The central premise of the film establishes when a small rowboat coasts ashore carrying a deceased man and a crying baby girl. The couple's decision of what to do next sets the stage for a heart-wrenching drama that tests the limits of love, truth, and the complexities of human morality.

In his role, Fassbender exhibits a stoic steadfastness, beautifully capturing Tom’s internal battle with his principles and instincts in a nuanced performance. His performance is an exercise in understanding the tremendous weight of a guilty conscience. Vikander, as Isabel, navigates the emotional spectrum with compelling prowess, effortlessly portraying the progressing stages of joy, sorrow, desperation, and ensuing confusion. Their on-screen chemistry constitutes the real—and at times heartbeat-skipping—element of the romantic scenes.

Rachel Weisz, as Hannah Roennfeldt, enters the narrative in a knot of sorrow, a mother's grief, and longing. Her performance is undeniably moving, and she adeptly brings depth and complexity to her character, ultimately propelling the narrative towards its climax.

Derek Cianfrance, taking the reins as the director, is incredibly skilled at portraying human emotions and their consequences. The evocative background score by Alexandre Desplat complements the director’s vision flawlessly, intensifying the emotional resonance at every key turn.

Above all, the film's most astonishing element is its breathtaking cinematography. Every scene is a visual treat that intensifies the story’s emotional textures. Cinematographer Adam Arkapaw's exceptional work shoots the landscapes with such endearing beauty that the elemental forces of nature, in turn, become characters in the story. Whether it's the blistering waves crashing against the shore, the tranquil dawn, or the menacing storms, every shot is painstakingly framed, making the audience feel connected to the pristine isolation of Janus Rock.

The Light Between Oceans can be an uneven sail at times, with its dramatic weight occasionally overwhelming its narrative direction. Yet, it is undeniably a beautiful piece of cinema that deals with the cost of love and lies, truth and consequences, all told through astounding performances by the lead actors, backed by an evocative score, and undeniably beautiful cinematography. It is a film that deeply immerses and stays with the viewer long after it has ended. It takes us on a journey through vibrant joy, engaging romance, deep grief, agonizing decisions, and the ultimate realization of humanity's capacity for love, forgiveness, and resilience.