The Light Between Oceans


After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.  Tom, who keeps meticulous records and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel insists the baby is a “gift from God,” and against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.

This is one of those truly frustrating movies.  As you are watching it - you know that it is a very well done movie in every way.  Direction, Cinematography, Screenwriting and especially acting.  But regardless of all that - you are just so damn bored throughout the movie.  I felt like I was sitting there for years watching this.  LOL!!!   Again - the performances were great and very powerful especially when they were conveying emotions without talking.  But I couldn't wait for it to end just so I could go home and move on to doing other things.  

I would recommend this movie to people that want to see all the award nominated movies because even though this was released in September, I could definitely see it getting acting nominations at the end of the year.   But it is one of those slowly paced and torturous well done movies.   Be warned.