When the Light Breaks at Scandinavian Film Festival

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 16 July 2024

when-the-light-breaks-scandinavian-film-festival
Una (Elín Hall)
Photo Credit: Compass Films

It's winter in Perth – and the Scandinavian Film Festival has given Perthites a very good reason to head out the door to Palace Raine Square to watch the feast of movies on offer.

I was lucky to watch the preview of When the Light Breaks (Ljósbrot) at Raine Square yesterday evening.

Set on a long summer's day in Reykjavik, Iceland, the movie centres around young adult Una (Elín Hall), who is happily in a relationship with her boyfriend – albeit under difficult circumstances due to a secret she harbours. But tragedy befalls her boyfriend, who dies before their future can be assured.

Grief – such a complex emotion - is portrayed in this film with the intensity and sensitivity that it elicits. The grief experience is different for everyone and in this movie we watch the crystal clear cinematography of the intense interactions between the different characters in the film – we see and feel the inner turmoil of Una as she experiences the loss of a loved one for the first time at quite a young age.

In this beautiful coming of age movie, Director Rúnar Rúnarsson explores multiple themes across many levels – the joy and freedom of being in your youth with your whole life stretching ahead – whilst at the same time having to grow up and mature when encountering life's difficulties.

When the Light Breaks is one of many movies that is being screened as part of the Saxo Scandinavian Festival.

The Saxo Scandinavian Film Festival runs from the 25 July to 14 August at Palace Raine Square.

I’ve also got my eye on "Touch" – another beautiful movie about finding lost love after 50 years which is also showing as part of the Scandi Film Festival.

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