Watch The Light Between Oceans

The Light Between Oceans is a heart-wrenching period drama film directed by Derek Cianfrance and based on the 2012 novel of the same name by M.L. Stedman. The movie was released in 2016 and starred Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Rachel Weisz in the lead roles. This emotional tale is set in the years following World War I and takes place mainly on a remote lighthouse island off the coast of Western Australia.

Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fassbender) is a former soldier who is seeking a quieter and more peaceful life. He takes a job as a lighthouse keeper on the isolated island of Janus Rock, where he meets and falls in love with a local girl named Isabel Graysmark (Alicia Vikander). The couple decides to get married and start a family together. However, after Isabel suffers several devastating miscarriages, they begin to lose hope of ever having children of their own.

One day, a small boat washes up on the shore of the island, carrying a dead man and a crying baby girl. Isabel sees this as a sign from God, and she convinces Tom to keep the baby and raise her as their own. Against his better judgment, Tom agrees, and they name the child Lucy. For a while, the three of them are happy together as a family, and Isabel seems to have finally found the love and purpose she has been searching for.

However, when Tom and Isabel return to the mainland, they discover that Lucy's biological mother, a local woman named Hannah (Rachel Weisz), has been mourning the loss of her husband and daughter and is still searching for her missing child. Tom is wracked with guilt over what he has done and begins to realize the impact his actions have had on others. Meanwhile, Isabel is unwilling to give up the child she has come to love as her own and is torn between her love for Lucy and her love for Tom.

The Light Between Oceans is a beautifully shot film that captures the stark and striking beauty of the Australian coastline. Director Cianfrance uses the landscape to establish a sense of isolation and solitude, which serves as a backdrop for the emotional turmoil of the characters. This sense of isolation is also reflected in Tom and Isabel's relationship, as they struggle to connect with one another after the trauma of Tom's experiences in the war.

The film is driven by the strong performances of its three leads. Fassbender plays Tom as a quiet, reserved man who becomes increasingly conflicted as the weight of his decision weighs on him. Vikander gives a standout performance as Isabel, conveying the character's intense emotions with raw honesty and vulnerability. Weisz is also excellent as Hannah, a woman who has suffered unimaginable loss and will do anything to be reunited with her child.

At its core, The Light Between Oceans is a story about the consequences of actions and the way that love and loss can shape our lives. The film grapples with complex themes of morality, guilt, and grief, and does not shy away from the emotional turmoil that its characters experience. It is a slow-burning and poignant tale that will leave viewers with a lot to think about.

In conclusion, The Light Between Oceans is a poignant and beautifully crafted film that excels in its storytelling and performances. It is an emotional rollercoaster that will stay with viewers long after the credits roll.

The Light Between Oceans is a 2016 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 10 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 60.