A One Mann’s Movies review of “When The Light Breaks” (2025).
Original title: Ljósbrot
“When The Light Breaks” looks like it has, at the moment, just single showings at UK cinemas on this Friday, 23rd May 2025 (given we are about to enter “Impossible Stitch” week, cinemas are very full of content). You can find the current list of cinemas in the Summary section.
It’s a great shame that this one doesn’t have a broader distribution, since I found this to be an utterly beautiful piece of Icelandic film-making that cinephiles really should cut a blazing trail to try to watch. If there was any justice and balance in the Oscar nominations system, then there are at least two Oscar nominations that I would personally wish to consider tying to this picture.
As for “Hallow Road“, this is a film worth going into cold if possible. I’ll try to keep this review spoiler-free, but you might infer some things from my comments.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
“When The Light Breaks” Plot:
Una (Elín Hall) and Diddi (Baldur Einarsson) are having an affair behind the back of his long-term and long-distance girlfriend Klara (Katla Njálsdóttir). Diddi is to fly to see Klara and break off their relationship. But fate intervenes.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: NR. (From the BBFC web site: “Strong language”.)
Talent:
Starring: Elín Hall, Baldur Einarsson, Katla Njálsdóttir, Mikael Kaaber, Ágúst Wigum, Gunnar Hrafn Kristjánsson.
Directed by: Rúnar Rúnarsson.
Written by: Rúnar Rúnarsson.
Running Time: 1h 22m.
“When The Light Breaks” Summary:
Positives:
- An Oscar-worthy performance by Elín Hall.
- Oscar-worthy cinematography from Sophia Olsson.
- A sombre story about isolation even among friends that kept you engaged until the end….
Negatives:
- …but the story is quite slight and the film only just about scrapes to its 82 minutes.
Review of “When The Light Breaks”:
What an astonishing performance.
The problem with the Oscar nominations is that they have traditionally dredged from the same pot of mainstream-ish films, and without much regard for international films. That all changed last year with the nomination of Fernanda Torres for “I’m Still Here“. So, who knows? Perhaps there is hope for the Icelandic actress Elín Hall? For the performance she gives in this film is just outstanding. One of the acting performances of the year in my book. There is a sequence in here, where a suspicion gets confirmed and Una tears up, which is simply incredible acting. I loved it.
While we are talking about astonishing things…
The cinematography by Sophia Olsson is also quite brilliant and – dare I say – also Oscar-nomination-worthy. Reykjavik looks crisp and wonderful in the summer sunshine, counterpointing the dark subject matter and wide shots of a sunset and a sunrise over the ocean are wonderful. But it is some of the framing of the shots that is astonishing with some actually making me say “Wow!” outloud… not something I am used to doing!
In one shot, Una is making a phone call in a high-rise building overlooking the sea… she is almost unseen behind the smoked glass as the camera zooms in on her…. just breathtaking.
In another, Klara (Katla Njálsdóttir), inside a patio door, is watching Una (Elín Hall) who then turns and stares back at her. Una moves such that their images becoming superbly superimposed on each other as they both smile together. It reminded me of the shot in “Joker: Folie á Deux” where Joachim Phoenix aligns himself with the lipstick smile on the glass. But this is with two living, breathing people and the effect must have taken forever to get right.
A slender but effective story.
The film shares something in common with “Good One” that I saw earlier this week in that the story is quite slight and based around a single unshared truth. It’s a story of grief and loneliness for Una, even though she is among her own good friends. The film is somewhat one-dimensional in that it creates a (sombre) tone and then plays that for the rest of the film. Unlike “Good One” though, this film had a lot more dramatic meat on the bone. It also benefits by being only 82 minutes long: any longer, and I think the already-stretched subject matter would have tested my patience and I would have wanted more content. I do wonder though whether a short film of 40 minutes, made with the same high class acting and production values, might have made the Oscar short film shortlist.
Triggers.
The film is about grief and grieving and this may be triggering to some viewers.
Summary Thoughts on “When The Light Breaks”
This was a lovely surprise. A heartfelt film that was a bit like “The Friend” in exploring the devastating effects of grief… but minus the dog! It’s not a very happy film to watch. But in my book, it is an extremely well made movie and deserves your attention.
As mentioned in the introduction, the film only has a VERY limited UK cinematic release at present. The PR agency has informed me of the following screenings on THIS FRIDAY, 23rd May 2025, if you want to go and check it out (which I would encourage you to do).
- BFI Southbank – London, England (23 May 2025)
- ICA – London, England (23 May 2025)
- HOME – Manchester, England (23 May 2025)
- Showroom – Sheffield, England (23 May 2025)
- Science and Media Museum, Pictureville Cinema – Bradford, England (23 May 2025)
- QFT -Belfast, N.Ireland (23 May 2025)
- Arthouse – Crouch End, London, England (23 May 2025)
- Chapter – Cardiff, Wales (23 May 2025)
- GFT – Glasgow, Scotland (23 May 2025)
It will no doubt also come to a streaming service at some point, in which case come back here to check out the Justwatch widget below for where you can watch it.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “When The Light Breaks”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcJOIzfu9lA.
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