THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS

This co-production between the UK, New Zealand and the USA is an intensely moving and visually mesmerising romance drama which should entrance audiences.

Set in 1918 the story surrounds a man (Michael Fassbender) who returns from war and accepts a job as a lighthouse keeper on a remote island off the coast of Darwin. He marries and soon after his wife’s (Alicia Vikander) second miscarriage a boat is swept to shore carrying a dead man and baby. At the insistence of the wife they secretly raise the child as their own, and it’s happy families until the biological mother enters their lives.

Based on the bestselling Australian novel by M.L. Stedman, this exquisite film stars a stable of ‘A class’ Aussie actors in supporting roles including Jack Thompson, Garry McDonald and Bryan Brown.

If audiences aren’t deterred by the implausible storylines powered by highly improbable coincidences, they should be pleasantly surprised by this sweeping tale of love, loss, sacrifice and the tragedy which unfolds from one desperate action. (MMo)

★★★1/2

Premieres at the BBC First British Film Festival, Oct 25–Nov 16. Info: www.britishfilmfestival.com.au