The Light Between Oceans

This is a lovely movie. All three starring actors--Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Rachel Weisz--are superb. The movie is a bit long, however. I also think viewers who have read the novel may enjoy the movie more than people who did not; the novel contains nuances that are not present in the screen version.

We ran across this movie when we were researching travel to Tasmania. This was shot there and we thought it would serve as an interesting travelogue of the area. We were wrong in that premise because most of the movie is shot on one very small island. But the scenery there is breathtaking!About the movie itself...We'd read a lot of so-so reviews. Their main reason for not liking it more was the implausible premise the storyline takes. So, we went into it thinking that...and maybe that's why we ended up loving it more than we expected. Yes...the longer term storyline does have some difficulties. But the rest of the plot was well thought out, the characters were well developed, the acting spot-on and in general we found the movie to be captivating.It's really hard to predict how someone takes to a specific movie. Movies we think we'll love, we don't...and ones like this we thought we were watching for one reason end up becoming loved for an entirely different reason. So I can't really write much more without ruining the story for someone else except this. Perhaps, the plausibility of the characters and their love story was so real because we read that the 2 leads actors really did fall in love while shooting this movie. Whatever the reasons were, we're happy we rented this and would do so again. In terms of reviewing movies, I think that we tend to fall on the more critical end of the spectrum...if that helps any.

I don't watch many modern romance films because they're too melodramatic and unbelievable in their portrayal of what real love is. They focus too much on the physical attraction and are riff with sex scenes. There is SO much more to love then that!This film is an excellent example: Two people who love each other dearly, seen in many ways and not just in the bedroom. It shows sacrifice, selflessness, putting someone else before you. It shows two people who love each other for more than their looks, but their personality and who they are, even as they change, grow and see things that hurt them.The actors are wonderful. I will see Michael Fassbender in anything, he's THAT good (and I don't watch many modern films). It adds an extra dose of realism that the two lead actors met on this film set, fell in love and are now apparently married. Congratulations! Makes me see their scenes together in a whole new light since acting in love probably wasn't much of a stretch for them ;)

If one has seen a movie filled with emotion to the point of heart wrenching, “The Light Between Oceans” may be considered close to describing the film directed by Derek Cianfrance and adapted from the novel written by M.L. Stedman. The story centers upon a lighthouse located on Janus Island and involves the pivotal main characters Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fessbender) a veteran of World War I who returns home to Australia and finds work at the lighthouse and meets the daughter of Tom’s boss Isabel Graysmark (Alicia Vikander). What appears to be play out obvious and predictable within the storyline immediately takes a turn once the couple marries and attempts to conceive a child. It is from this point that the film and story becomes extremely dramatic and at times slow-pace but with immense intensity.The story is the core of the film but its strands of themes that emerge that are portrayed by the characters and the landscape in which they dwell. It is exceptionally captured by the cinematography and camera work that is not necessarily spoken within the dialogue but through their facial expressions and gestures. It is evident that Tom and Isabel experience challenges, especially attempting to establish a family of their own and after several attempts reaching to the point that it will never happen. And when all appeared hopeless, a dingy appears that may have come from a shipwreck and buried within the boat a man and a baby; one can guess what happens after that, Tom and Isabel are overjoyed. But before they can completely be at ease, other events transpire within the film that includes Rachel Weisz who plays widow and mother that had recently lost her child Hannah Roennfeldt, and the story further spirals as a mystery. And what looms in the balance one day, putting all of the pieces together to where the child came from and Tom confronting the truth while dealing with his own demons as a result of the war.“The Light Between Oceans” is enlightening as it is thought provoking and is worth an afternoon or movie night to watch.

So I am just one of those romantic’s from another time. I simply loved this movie! I thought it was beautiful and wished the story had gone on for much longer. I loved the directing and imagery, the scenery was beautiful. The island was such a wonderful place for newlywed lovers. And I would have liked to see more of Isabelle after the truth is revealed. Tom’s actions while wrong and unfortunate were to me a beautiful portrayal of true love-it was the wrong way of trying to do a good thing for the one that you love. Tom’s love was the over-arching theme he loved her even to the end, taking all the blame and only wanted to make her happy. That we could have but a bit of that in life, we are blessed.

A beautifully shot and well acted drama with an engaging storyline featuring some of the most wonderful scenery acting as the backdrop to an emotional and layered storyline.In the wake of WW1, a man seeks isolation from the world by choosing a solitary existence as a remote lighthouse keeper. Despite his isolation though he eventually falls for a young woman and marries her. As their life develops and he himself is brought back to life (in a way) from what he's experienced their only sorrow is difficulty having a child. However, when a child washes ashore in a boat they choose to keep her, setting in motion a chain of events which will affect their lives profoundly.As much as the film is engrossing, a special mention must be made of the jaw dropping New Zealand scenery, and the beautiful images captured on film. Sunsets and endless oceans, islands and lush countryside are filmed spectacularly. But Micheal Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Rachel Weiss are all excellent and all of them engage the viewers sympathy in a story where no one is a bad person, but have to deal with the consequences of decisions made nontheless.The main extra is a commentary by director Derek Cianfrance and film studies professor Phil Solomon as they discuss the film in thematic detail. There's a couple of featurettes running about 20 minutes or so.

Darauf läuft es hinaus in Derek Clanfrances Verfilmung von M.L. Stedmans Roman -Das Licht zwischen den Meeren-. Großes „Schmachtfetzen-Kino“ mit Bildern, die einem unter die Haut gehen und einer Story, die dramatischer kaum vorstellbar ist. Besetzt mit drei hervorragenden Darstellern, die sich perfekt in die Geschichte einbringen. Wer da unbewegt rausgeht hat vermutlich ein Herz aus Stein oder das Wort Empathie noch nie gehört.Nach dem ersten Weltkrieg will Tom Sherbourne(Michael Fassbender) nur noch seine Ruhe. Er bewirbt sich auf eine Aushilfestelle auf dem Leuchtturm der Insel Janus Rock. 100 Meilen Einsamkeit trennen ihn dort vom Festland Austrailiens. Bei seinem Besuch auf Land lernt er Isabel(Alicia Vikander) kennen und lieben. Das beruht auf Gegenseitigkeit. Isabel zieht mit Tom auf die einsame Insel und erlebt dort die große Liebe, aber auch zwei tragische Fehlgeburten. Dann spült das Meer eine Jolle an Land, in der ein lebendes, kleines Mädchen und ein toter Mann liegen. Tom will den Vorfall melden, aber Isabel will das Baby. So nehmen Glück und Unglück gemeinsam ihren Lauf…Bis kurz vor Ende des Films war ich mit dem Plot nicht hundertprozentig einverstanden, doch die letzten Minuten rückten einiges zurecht, was man vorher nur erahnen konnte. Derek Clanfrance hat ganz tief in die Kiste mit den großen Gefühlen gepackt und sie alle herausgeholt. Das tut dem Film unendlich gut. Wer allerdings nicht auf eine klassische Geschichte in Old School Manier(obwohl Stedmans Roman aus dem Jahr 2012 ist) steht, der sollte den Film lieber nicht anschauen. Für all diejenigen Zuschauer, die noch heute mit Wehmut an Filme wie -Jenseits von Afrika- denken, ist -Liebe zwischen den Meeren- in jedem Fall ein MUST-HAVE…

The film starts out well, beautiful and believable in the early going, but eventually runs into a far-fetched plot device that strains credibility. An incident occurs (or a cascading series of them) that creates tension for the main players, leading to crisis, loss and grief.Tom Sherbourne has returned to western Australia from the trenches of the First World War. He looks sad, weary, dazed. He doesn’t smile, as there’s a lot bottled up inside he wants to be rid of. He has taken a job few others want, tending a lighthouse on a small remote island located between two oceans, the Indian and the Pacific. What company for him there? The wind and sky, storms and clouds. The sun, sea, moon, stars. Perhaps some sea birds. Memories as well, though he hopes these can be scattered by the wind. The world can cease to exist for a while (he has signed on for six months), the only humans of consequence those at sea whom his guiding light will protect. Strange that thought, protecting humans instead of killing them, as he did during the war. The war! How had he allowed himself to be dragged into it, nearly destroyed by it? He didn’t belong there. No one did. The generals should have met in no-man’s-land with knives and sabres. Instead, the war demanded and received rivers of blood from millions of young men.He’s not all there yet in the head. It will take time to recover, if he can. For now his job is the only thing that matters, the medicine he needs. Silence and solitude will also help. The world has become too much for him.Early on Tom (played beautifully, stoically by Michael Fassbender) meets Captain Hasluck in the port town of Partageuse (fictitious). The captain will arrange Tom’s transport by boat to Janus Island, the place where the lighthouse is located. Tom also meets friends of the captain, Mr. and Mrs. Graysmark and their grown daughter, Isabel, aged about 23 (played with girlish charm by Alicia Vikander). They all dine together in the Graysmark home.Tom is replacing a Mr. Trimble who lived on the island and manned the lighthouse for six years. Trimble was there with his wife, but after a spell things began to fall apart for him. His marriage dissolved and he had a breakdown. “Cabin fever” they called it — isolation, loneliness. Impossible it seems that a single man could endure it. Which is why the posting for Tom is temporary, just six months (as mentioned). But he arrives with good references that say he’s reliable. He was a highly disciplined soldier who followed orders, tough and resilient, too, surviving more than three years of carnage on the Western Front. The captain feels the lighthouse committee have made a good choice.At the dinner table Tom and Isabel barely exchange words, their glances making up for the silence. It’s obvious she’s taken with him, clear too he’s humbled and flattered by her interest. Yet he’s got a job to do, so whatever she thinks is incidental to it. Later on, alone on the island, he thinks of her often, yet there’s so little to think about. He knows virtually nothing of her, just her voice, appearance, the way she looked at him.Three months pass. Tom is busy on the island with chores, including the main task of lighting the gas light in the lighthouse at dusk every evening and keeping a detailed log of weather conditions and passing ships.A crew of three men from the mainland visit Tom at the three-month mark. They bring a message: he is requested by Captain Hasluck to return for a meeting. This he does.The captain informs Tom that Trimble will not be returning, his convalescence not having gone as well as hoped. In fact it’s gone so badly he’s dead, having jumped from a cliff face in despair. Tom is offered a new contract, this one for three years. He accepts it.During this time back he visits the home of the Graysmarks, bringing flowers. His intention is clear and Isabel is prepared for it. She arranges a picnic for them (just the two of them). Her parents, especially her mother, voices approval, as if everyone has discussed what Tom’s visit would mean if it occurred.Things go well. Though Tom is hardly talkative, Isabel’s cheerful, playful personality makes up for it. She’s good at teasing things out of him. She’s clever and sensitive and Tom soon understands this. Their conversation during their picnic is particularly revealing and sets the tone for the rest of the story.Isabel: What’s it like out there?Tom: It’s quiet. There’s time to think.I: You get lonely?T: Too busy. There’s always something that needs fixing.I: You like it?T: (no answer)I: You don’t actually talk a lot, do you?T: Do you ask out all the light keepers who go to Janus?I: All? (she laughs) You’re the first new one in years.Isabel had two brothers but they’re gone now, both killed in the war. She talks to Tom about this loss — one for herself but especially for her parents.I: It must be so confusing for my parents. I mean, if a wife loses a husband, she becomes a widow, but if a parent loses a child there’s no special label for it. You’re still a mother or father even if you no longer have a child. Sometimes I wonder if I’m still technically a sister.And what of Tom’s family? No family to speak of, his mother dead and gone, his father remote, unfeeling. No siblings mentioned. Was his father harsh and strict? An understatement. However, it made Tom tough and disciplined. Long before he was a soldier he had acquired a soldier’s mentality.T: There’s no love lost between us.He means himself and his father.Isabel says she wants to visit Tom. He says in return that it’s impossible. The only women allowed on the island are the wives of light keepers.I: Then marry me.Pause.Then she laughs. He does too. But after the laughter comes silence and they nearly kiss.They will write. The mail boat comes every couple weeks. They will get to know each other through the marvellous process of writing.At first their letters are a bit formal. But this soon melts. Afterwards, nothing but affection, longing, desire. That’s how their love develops. An old-fashioned one, almost Victorian in pace and sentiment.So, they make love with words long before they ever do with touch. In one letter Isabel makes a teasing jest of her love, announcing to Tom that her “offer” still stands — the one of marriage to him. Though he doubts such happiness could truly be his, he’s overjoyed. Of course he is. She is lively, beautiful, playful, passionate. But she’s also serious, philosophical, a woman of great depth. He doesn’t understand why she has come into his life, but sometimes one just has to surrender to fate and its mysteries. He does and they marry.The celebration outdoors on the mainland after the ceremony is lovely, everyone in good cheer. Mr. Graysmark toasts the young couple and beseeches Tom to take care of Isabel, as she is the last child he and his wife have. Everyone knows he will. He especially knows it, this love having come out of nowhere, a gift of life after all he has seen and endured. These scenes of happiness are tender and touching. The couple dance in the centre of the group. They embrace and kiss, and when they do Isabel giggles like a schoolgirl. No wonder Tom loves her. There is nothing affected about her. In this pure moment she truly seems a schoolgirl again.And, perhaps interesting to say, life really does imitate art sometimes. Rumour says Tom and Isabel were not the only ones to come together on Janus Island. Michael and Alicia fell in love there too while making the film. Perhaps the wild setting, the ocean, wind and waves had something to do with it, the human heart stirred by these powerful forces.The first half of the film, utterly beautiful, is as described above. But through no fault of their own forces conspire against the couple to test their happiness. This is where the story takes a strong detour. Their fairy tale romance in isolation on the island cannot last, and, almost like shipwrecks, they are blown back to the mainland by circumstances beyond their control.To be honest, this turn in the story disappointed me. Maybe I’m too much of a romantic and idealist, a victim of too many Jane Austen happy endings. Tom suffered so much in the war. Why couldn’t life deal him a healthy reprieve? Actually, it does, and while it lasts it’s the most beautiful thing on Earth he has known. He loves her, truly loves her. She loves him too. But this is not a fairy tale. Like life, it’s messy and complicated. Things can’t always be the way we want them to be. Even so, we have our moments, moments of true happiness. Treasure these, says the film.Many people will give the film five stars. That’s fine. Due to my disappointment, I give it four. Jane Austen or Charlotte Brontë would have written a better ending.

Bought this film on a whim, hadn't been interested by the trailers but figured I'd give it a watch anyway. I'm glad I did. It was wonderfully shot, written and acted with a devastating storyline. Truly makes you feel every bit of emotion the characters go through. A really unexpected gem of a film.

I like Michael Fassbender but didn't fancy watching this film when it first released but now it's free on Amazon Prime I decided to give it a go. I have watched a previous film by the Director, Blue Valentine, which he wrote but which was mostly improvised by the lead actors. I would say this film is an improvement probably because it's adapted from a book.It's a long film with not that much dialogue but it is beautifully shot. I am used to seeing Fassbender in charasmatic roles, so it was a surprise to see his acting in this role where he is a quiet man but he did a good job. I've never seen Vickander in anything before but her acting was good. I know these two are now a couple in real life but to me, they had very little chemistry in this film.I see from other reviews that people say the book is better and that the film misses out chunks of the book. I did have some unanswered questions like why did Isobel never become pregnant again in the years after they rescued the baby? Why did they wait a year to take the baby to meet her family?The numerous accents annoyed me. I like Fassbender but he has never being great at accents and always slips back into Irish. I wasn't sure why Isobel spoke in an English accent when her parents sounded Australian? Rachel Weisz spoke in an english accent but the girl playing her sister had an australian accent?! I'm not really a fan of Rachel Weisz and thought she was too old to play this part.Aside from a few niggles, I still enjoyed watching this.