The Light Between Oceans (Hayat Işığım in Turkish) was much loved by some critics at the Venice Film Festival and kept our curiosity alive. Released here soon after its world premiere, the film was adored by some film fans and critics and harshly criticised by others. The Light Between Oceans is in fact a novel adaptation. Sometimes when I watch films like this, especially ones with a romantic plot, I can’t help wondering whether it would have been better left as a novel. In my view, a novel shouldn’t be brought to the big screen just because it is widely read, reaches a large audience and has been translated into many languages.
I can’t quite say that those who awaited the film with great curiosity were disappointed, but whether it was worth such excited anticipation is debatable; incidentally, the film has an IMDb rating of 7.2, and plenty of people like it.
What I didn’t like was how strongly it smacked of the clichés of Turkish domestic cinema. But at least I watched the first thirty to thirty-five minutes without getting bored.
To touch briefly on the plot: our protagonist, Tom Sherbourne, returns to Australia after the gruelling years of war – has there ever been an easy war? – takes a job as a lighthouse keeper and begins living there with his wife, Isabella. They have moved from a noisy life to peace and quiet. Isabella’s greatest wish is to become a mother; her countless miscarriages and the possibility of never having a child have worn her down both psychologically and physically.
One day, at a point when all hope seems lost, she hears a baby crying. Behind the sound there is more than just a baby. When they follow the cry, they find a baby along with a man’s body. Isabel, burning with longing for a child, wants to believe this is a gift from God, to take the baby and tell no one about what happened.
So would they accept it as a gift from God, or would they do what had to be done? In which direction would their decision change their lives, and what consequences would it bring?
Enjoy the film – I’ll be eagerly awaiting your comments…
CREDITS
Release date: 2 September 2016
Running time: 133 min
IMDb: 7.2
Genre: Drama, Romance
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Screenwriter: Derek Cianfrance
Production: 2016 – USA, India, UK
Producers: David Heyman, Jeffrey Clifford, Tom Karnowski, Rosie Alison,
