By Paul Hall
A lighthouse helps guide ships in the darkness away from the dangers that lurk near shore. In the early 1900s, it is necessary for lighthouses to be manned as the lights must be lit by hand each night. It is a life of solitude for the keeper, and as the new film The Light Between Oceans illustrates, the isolation can have an impact on the lives of those who reside there.
Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fassbender) is a soldier who has returned from war and he feels a short assignment at a remote lighthouse in Western Australia will give him the peace and quiet that he desires. His temporary assignment becomes a lengthy one, and Tom reaches out to Isabel (Alicia Vikander) to strike up a relationship.
The two have a love story that begins as a long distance relationship and moves to the isolation of the lighthouse where they can be totally committed to each other with no distractions. But the reclusive life can be hard, and after Isabel loses a child, life takes time to restart. As they return to daily life, they hear cries from the water. A boat can be seen floating in the harsh ocean. Inside a baby is crying alongside a man who has succumbed to the elements. The couple saves the child and Isabel pleads with Tom to keep the baby as their own. Though to do so is against his better judgment, Tom wishes for nothing but the best for his bride and agrees.
The couple names their new daughter Lucy and brings her up in a loving environment. Now a complete family, they are happy together. But a visit to town and a chance meeting with a woman named Hannah (Rachel Weisz) reinforces Tom’s belief that the decision the couple made could impact a much larger number of people. Hannah lost her husband and daughter in an accident on the ocean and Tom believes that Lucy may actually be hers. Now the struggle is whether to tell Hannah about Lucy or pretend like nothing has happened.
With great talents like Fassbender and Vikander leading the film, we are immersed in what is at times a romantic fairy tale that we emotionally invest ourselves in. Fassbender’s devotion to his wife is evident within his portrayal of the always-by-the-book Tom. Vikander develops Isabel into a loving wife who desires a family with her husband. She’s strong and knows what she wants, and that isn’t afraid to express that strength.
Where the film hiccups is on the length. A tale that could have been told in about 30-45 minutes less decides to meander through its establishment of the love story. At the same time, the late plot twists are almost an afterthought and should have been examined closer as they were fascinating aspects to the film.
The talented actors cannot overcome the plodding pace of the film. Maybe I’m just impatient, but I believe the story could have been told with a similar impact in a significantly shorter amount of time. Despite an interesting premise, thinly developed characters and interminable pacing send this film crashing into the rocks without the presence of an editor as the film’s lighthouse.
The Light Between Oceans
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Rachel Weisz
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Grade: C+
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