The Light Between Oceans (2016)

A lighthouse keeper and his wife living off the coast of Western Australia raise a baby they rescue from a drifting rowing boat.

Director:

Derek Cianfrance

Writers:

Derek Cianfrance (written for the screen by), M.L. Stedman (novel)

Stars:

Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Rachel Weisz

1 win & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Fassbender	...	Tom Sherbourne
Alicia Vikander	...	Isabel Graysmark
Rachel Weisz	...	Hannah Roennfeldt
Florence Clery	...	Lucy-Grace
Jack Thompson	...	Ralph Addicott
Thomas Unger	...	Bluey Smart
Jane Menelaus	...	Violet Graysmark
Garry McDonald	...	Bill Graysmark
Anthony Hayes	...	Sergeant Vernon Knuckey
Benedict Hardie	...	Constable Harry Garstone
Emily Barclay	...	Gwen Potts
Bryan Brown	...	Septimus Potts
Stephen Ure	...	Neville Whittnish
Peter McCauley	...	Sergeant Spragg
Leon Ford	...	Frank Roennfeldt

Storyline

Tom, a war weary man takes a job as a lighthouse keeper on an island for the solitude. He meets a beautiful young woman, Isabelle and they eventually marry. One day they see a small dingy with an infant and man inside floating in the ocean. They rush to rescue them only to find the man is dead. They struggle over the decision to report it and whether to keep the baby. Heartbroken because she had already had miscarriages twice, Isabelle persuades Tom not to tell anyone about this and leave the girl to herself as if it were their child. He buries the man on the island, and the couple names the girl Lucy. He succumbs to her persuasion just to make her happy. It's only years later that they discover that the child still has a mother looking for her.

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Plot Keywords:

lighthouse | husband wife relationship | lighthouse keeper | loss of husband | 1920s | 

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Taglines:

Let Love Lie.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material and some sexual content

Did You Know?

Trivia

Last film (to date) produced by Touchstone Pictures.

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Goofs

Multiple date discrepancies: (1) the calendar in the kitchen in May 1921 showed May 1st as a Monday, but 5/1/21 was a Sunday; (2) the calendar in the kitchen in April 1923 showed April 1st as a Thursday, but 4/1/23 was a Sunday; (3) the calendar in lighthouse in 1923 says Monday, April 27, but 4/27/23 was a Friday; and (4) a notice on a bulletin board in 1927 says a Nativity play will be performed on Saturday, December 14th, but 12/14/27 was a Wednesday.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Tom Sherbourne: I'm just looking to get away from things for a little while.
Mr. Coughlan: [sitting behind his desk] Well, it's no paradise out on that island. Just want to make sure you know what you're in for.
Tom Sherbourne: All due respect, Mr. Coughlan, it's not likely to be tougher than the Western Front.
Mr. Coughlan: Oh, you're probably right about that. You pay your own passage to every posting. You're a relief worker so you don't get holidays. I understand you're a single man. No family. So, that's a slight concern. Wouldn't normally ...

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Alternate Versions

In Singapore, the film was edited in order to obtain a PG classification. The distributor removed an entire sex scene from the film (between Tom and Isabel, in which some sexual movements and brief breast nudity is shown). The film was later passed M18 uncut for it's video release.

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Alicia Vikander/Céline Dion (2016)

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Soundtracks

Mason's Apron
Traditional

User Reviews

Heartbreaking Story with Magnificent Performances

In December 1918, the traumatized military Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fassbender) is temporarily hired as lightkeeper to work alone for six months at a lighthouse at Janus Rock, Australia. He meets the joyful local girl Isabel Graysmark (Alicia Vikander) and they fall in love with each other. Soon they marry each other and Isabel moves to Janus Rock with Tom. Along the next years, Isabel has two miscarriages and while traumatized with her second loss, Tom rescues a rowboat on the shore with a dead man and a baby girl. When he is ready to report the incident, Isabel persuades Tom to keep the baby as if she were their child. The reluctant Tom has difficulties to agree, but keep the baby named Lisa. In Lisa´s baptism, Tom sees the local Hannah Roennfeldt (Rachel Weisz) praying at a grave and he learns that she is the real mother of Lisa. He writes an anonymous note to Hannah telling that her missing daughter is safe and sound. When Tom meets Hannah again four years late, he takes an attitude that will change the lives of many persons.

"The Light Between Oceans" is a beautiful film with a heartbreaking story and magnificent performances. It is easy to understand why Tom has difficulties to live a lie based on his rigid military principles but it is difficult to understand why the revelation four years after meeting Lisa´s real mother since he should be aware that his attitude would affect the lives of many people mainly Lisa and his wife. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "A Luz Entre Oceanos" ("The Light Between Oceans")

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Instagram

Country:

UK New Zealand USA India Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 September 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Light Between Oceans

Filming Locations:

Stanley, Tasmania, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,765,838, 4 September 2016

Gross USA:

$12,545,979

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$25,975,621

Company Credits

Production Co:

Heyday Films, LBO Productions (II), Dreamworks Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

133 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1