The Light Between Oceans was a heavy hitting emotional drama set in the early 20th century off the coast of a remote Australian island. Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fassbender), was a quiet and gentle man who undertook a 6-month assignment to tend and care for the lighthouse on the island. I immediately liked him, but the fact that he welcomed the isolation made me curious about what happened to him during WWI. His first glance at Isabel (Alicia Vikander) signaled for me that she would change his life. And that’s what she did.
Their intense love story was fueled by a series of letters they wrote one another after spending a couple days together while he was on the mainland accepting a 3-year contract to stay on as lighthouse keeper. Isabel was a beautiful, charming young woman with a playfulness that captivated Tom. They married and set out to live their quiet life on the island. The backdrop of the isolated island was the perfect setting for love to grow between the young couple.
Isabel and Tom on Janus Island
Tom and Isabel shared a perfect love that endured 2 miscarriages devastating the couple, especially Isabel. I can still recall the first loss. It was during a storm and Tom had left Isabelle alone because he had to tend the light in the lighthouse. While the storm raged outside, inside Isabel’s body a storm raged which resulted in the loss of her baby.
When the boat arrived with the dead man and the infant, it seemed as if God was answering Isabel’s prayers. No one else knew about the boat that washed up on shore, but the couple. Isabel desperately pleaded with Tom to let her keep the baby and because he loved her deeply, he begrudgingly agreed. They buried the dead man and raised “Lucy” for several years in their idyllic, coastal home. Tom and Isabel loved her more that any parents could ever love a child they had longed for.
Tom and Isabel with baby Lucy
Unfortunately, their perfect world crashed in on them like the waves crashing against the rocks on the island. When Lucy’s real mother, Hannah (Rachel Weisz), found out that her child survived a tragic accident, Tom and Isabel were forced to answer for their actions, though well-intentioned, were clearly wrong. The turning point left the biggest lump in my throat that would not subside for the remainder of the movie.
Hanna reading a note from an anonymous person.
It became difficult for me to watch Tom, Isabel, Lucy (aka Grace aka Lucy Grace), and Hannah suffer through loss and reunion. It was especially hard watching Tom put himself on the firing line because of his deep devotion to his wife.
Tom noticing Hannah talking to Isabel and Lucy.
The lighthouse metaphor as symbol of strength stands in juxtaposition with the strength of each character. Tom devoted to his duties as lighthouse keeper and husband stood as a strong tower for his wife. Isabel’s free and energetic spirit brought Tom back to life and contributed to his strong love for her. Hannah, though having experienced a devastating tragedy, stood strong in a moral lesson learned from her deceased husband. Lucy, who later became Lucy Grace, remembered just how much she meant to Tom and Isabel and with a strength of consciousness paid her respects to them later in life.
This is a story about loss, moral decisions, and forgiveness. It’s beautifully haunting because of the setting and the extreme amount of angst expressed by the main characters after the climax of the film. I recommend this film for those who enjoy dramas that are deep and profound. For those into action-packed movies, stay away. Although not my preferred movie genre, I enjoyed it just the same because of its moving emotional plot that made me contemplate the complexity of human nature. I particularly enjoyed how the cinematographer captured the beautiful New Zealand landscape. I give Light Between the Oceans two thumbs up.
Isabel (Alicia Vikander)
DreamWorks Pictures debuts this film written and directed by Derek Cianfrance and based on the novel by M.L. Stedman.
Runtime: 130 minutes
Rated PG-13 (for thematic material and some sexual content).
Opens Friday at local theaters.
