Written and Directed by Rúnar Rúnarsson
Starring Elín Hall, Mikael Kaaber, Baldur Einarsson, and Katla Njálsdóttir

Keeping your cool in a crisis is a challenge in itself. Keeping your cool when no one else aside from yourself is privy to that crisis could prove to be an insurmountable challenge. 

The subject of such a challenge in Icelandic drama When the Light Breaks is Una (Elín Hall), a pansexual performing arts student currently waiting for her male companion, Diddi (Baldur Einarsson) to officially end a long-distance relationship with girlfriend Klara (Katla Njálsdóttir). Before that difficult conversation for Diddi can take place though, an unexpected and awful event occurs that uncomfortably brings Una and Klara together, along with some of Diddi’s closest friends including best friend Gunni (Mikael Kaaber), where they experience uncertainty, escalating anxiety, and grief. 

When the Light Breaks spends absolutely no time at all keeping its viewers in the dark surrounding the scenario it immediately wishes to present and let unfold. It is certainly an interesting one with multi-faceted potential that is understandably troubling for Una. Just how invested and involved its viewers can become is largely determined by what writer and director Rúnar Rúnarsson decides to do with the scenario that is established after the aforementioned event has occurred and how psychologically deep his characters and themes will tread. At a mere 82 minutes in length, this is where When the Light Breaks lets down. The screenplay acknowledges some of the emotional complexities that befall its central character, and this well done, but it only scratches the surface of what it brings to the fore. With the aid of solid performances from all its cast, especially by Elín Hall, this drama does succeed at pinpointing the juxtaposition of Una’s external output versus the internal implosion forthcoming. From Una’s perspective, we can empathise that it isn’t fair how everyone else is able to visibly express any and every emotion felt but should Una do the same, a secret may reveal itself at the worst time imaginable. The comfort, love, and support these characters give to each other is lovely to see, but in the end, When the Light Breaks had various means of illumination at its disposal and instead opts for meagre candle.

When the Light Breaks is showing in selected cinemas as part of the Saxo Scandinavian Film Festival across Australia from July 19th to August 7th.

Moviedoc thanks Palace, the Saxo Scandinavian Film Festival, and Miranda Brown Publicity for the invitation to the screening of this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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