When The Light Breaks (Scandinavian Film Festival) - Film Review

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Wed 17 Jul 2024 - Wed 14 Aug 2024

The Scandinavian Film Festival will be gracing our screens as follows - ADE 17 July – 7 Aug; BRI 18 Jul – 7 Aug; MEL 19 Jul – 7 Aug; SYD 24 Jul – 14 Aug; CAN 25 Jul – 14 Aug; PER 25 Jul – 14 Aug; BYR 26 Jul – 14 Aug; BALL 26 Jul – 14 Aug. Celebrating a decade on Australian cinema, expect to see sweeping dramas, crime thrillers, black comedy, and spectacular cinematography and landscapes. See here for the PDF program , and here for films on the website to make your bookings. If you're a film buff, grab yourself an eTicket Bundle and save. Sale ends 24 July 2024.


When The Light Breaks is one of many gems on offer at The Scandinavian Film Festival . Direct from the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and a short film at just 82mins (Icelandic with English subtitles), it was the opening film of the Un Certain Regard section. Set between two sunsets in Reykjavik, Iceland, life changes in an instant and sets young art student Una on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as unexpected tragedy swamps her. She finds herself in the midst of those who have come together in solidarity, as she grapples with grief. She harbours a secret and is stifled, feeling isolated and unable to fully express her emotions. Highlighting the unique, ethereal twilight of the Icelandic summer, the film chronicles a day in the life of young adults dealing with unexpected loss.

Written and directed by Oscar-nominated Icelandic director Rúnar Rúnarsson, this deeply moving coming-of-age drama presents a poignant young-adult exploration of grief, sorrow, love, and friendship. It stars the remarkable Elín Hall as Una, Baldur Einarsson as Diddi, Mikael Kaaber as Gunni, Katla Njálsdóttir As Klara, Ágúst Wigum as Bassi, and Gunnar Hrafn Kristjánsson as Siggi.


Diddi and Una are bandmates and fellow students. Involved in an affair, they spend the sunset trading dreams and jokes and speaking of getting out of the shadow of secrecy, and for Diddi to break up with his long-distance girlfriend Klara so they could go away together - travel. Meant to travel for work the next morning, Diddi leaves Una asleep and heads out. The flight is cancelled so Diddi borrows Gunni's car and and is caught in a major explosion, with many lives lost, plunging the country into collective grief. Gunni comes looking for Una who has awoken and totally unaware of the explosion, to give her the news. She's still in disbelief and holds on to the thought that Diddi might still be alive since there's no confirmation yet. Her dreams shattered, the love of her life gone, and she's unable to cope and attempts to spend time with her family.

However Gunni calls and she is drawn back to Diddi's group of friends to grieve together - bandmates, roommate, childhood friends and are joined by Klara who has travelled to be close to where it all happened. This puts extra pressure on Una, making her feel like an outsider as she is hiding the secret of her affair, and all attention is on Klara as the grieving girlfriend. However, bonded by a shared tragedy, they spend time together reminiscing through old photos, going to Diddi's old bar, taking shots of his favourite vodka, and later over the course of the evening, gather and dance till the tears can no longer be contained. Klara is unaware Diddi was going to break up with her, and Una promised Gunni she would not add more grief to Klara by telling her about the affair. This promise inhibits her ability to grieve fully, and she watches on in the background as all the others hug Klara and soothe her for her loss.


There's surprising depth to the film in its simple, uncomplicated narrative, as it cleverly handles restraint that makes more of an impact in the hands of a master filmmaker. It's a story of loss and grief, yet Elín Hall as Una takes it to a whole new level. Her ethereal beauty and her exquisite execution of her emotions are beautifully subtle on the surface, yet she manages to take us on her journey of grief as she deep dives into layers of emotions as they tumble and roar louder and louder till she lets it all out in abandon, culminating in a body shattering hypnotic dance that collapses in heaving, unconsolable sorrow that refuses to be contained.

Mikael Kaaber as Gunni gives a noteworthy performance as he easily and sincerely lets out his grief for his roommate/bandmate and friend. His expressions in knowing the truth about Una's secret displays emotional awareness towards both Una and Klara in their time of grief, and he gives a very emotionally sensitive performance. The cinematography is another strong point that creates a quietly intense experience with its beautiful lighting, setting a scene of profound melancholy, supported by sombre music in the background. Despite its broody, devastating tale, the powerful visuals and deeply moving scenes put the focus on Una, and her sensitive, intuitive performance of grief for one so young, rises to the challenge. In spite of minimal dialogue her inner turmoil and feelings are clearly expressed. I do believe there's a subtle moment of exchange that has you guessing, and fearing for Una that Klara has guessed the situation.



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