The Light Between Oceans: A Heart-Wrenching Tale of Love, Loss, and Moral Dilemmas
This is a review of “The Light Between Oceans,” a period drama set in post-World War I Australia, revolving around a family’s controversial adoption of a baby.
The film stars Michael Fassbender as Tom Sherbourne, a war veteran who takes a job as a lighthouse keeper on a remote island. He marries Isabel, played by Alicia Vikander, but their attempts to start a family are met with heartbreaking miscarriages. One day, a boat washes ashore carrying a dead man and a living infant. Desperate to have a child, the Sherbournes decide to raise the baby as their own, naming her Lucy. They justify their actions by believing the child is an orphan and would be better off with them than in an institution. However, when Tom discovers that Lucy has a living and grief-stricken mother, his conscience begins to haunt him.
To enhance their on-screen chemistry, director Derek Cianfrance had Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander live together during filming.
The Power of Melodrama: Conflict Without Villains
Unlike many genres, melodrama thrives on conflict that doesn’t necessarily require villains. Love, in its various forms, can be a powerful and complex emotion. When multiple individuals share a deep affection for the same person, such as two men loving the same woman or two women loving the same child, conflict naturally arises, even if everyone involved is inherently good. A prime example is the TV series “Switched at Birth,” where the central drama stemmed from a simple mistake made by a nurse, rather than any malicious intent.
“The Light Between Oceans,” based on the debut novel by M.L. Stedman, perfectly illustrates this principle. The Sherbournes commit a crime by concealing the baby’s father’s death and keeping the child without attempting to find her family. However, by the time this happens, the audience has already developed a strong emotional connection to the couple. Director Derek Cianfrance takes his time in portraying Isabel’s devastating miscarriages, making it difficult not to empathize with her desire to keep Lucy. Similarly, Tom’s decision to go along with his wife’s plan stems from his love for her and his compassionate nature. Their actions are not driven by malice, but by a desperate desire to fill the void left by their losses.
The film’s lead actors are nearly a decade older than their characters in the novel.
A Mother’s Grief: The Other Side of the Coin
It’s equally easy to understand the pain of Hannah (Rachel Weisz), Lucy’s biological mother, who has lost both her husband and daughter and has been denied the chance to properly bury them. Hannah defied her powerful father to marry a German immigrant, sacrificing her inheritance and his blessing for a brief period of happiness.
This creates a compelling and emotionally charged conflict, where both sides evoke genuine sympathy. Lucy finds herself caught between two loving families, each capable of providing her with a happy life. While the legal implications are clear, the moral and emotional complexities of “The Light Between Oceans” are far more challenging, prompting viewers to contemplate, empathize, and perhaps even shed a tear.
A Timeless Tale
Although published in 2012, Stedman’s novel is a classic story that avoids modernizing the Australians of the 1920s. Instead, it focuses on the era’s notions of love and honor, unfolding with the deliberate pace and detail of literary classics. This may make “The Light Between Oceans” less accessible to some viewers, as it requires patience and a thoughtful understanding of the characters’ motivations. While the story is engaging, it may not reach the level of a true masterpiece of psychological fiction.
However, “The Light Between Oceans” boasts stunning cinematography and exceptional performances from its cast, who beautifully capture the nuances of their characters. Alicia Vikander is particularly captivating. While she has played similar melodramatic roles in the past, her recent portrayal of a cold government agent in “Jason Bourne” temporarily overshadowed her ability to portray warmth, humanity, and psychological depth. Fortunately, she reminds us that she is not limited to simplistic blockbuster roles. Ultimately, it is the mark of a skilled actor to be equally convincing in diametrically opposed roles.