In the vast landscape of cinema, the intertwined themes of love and death are foundational. Yet, Rúnar Rúnarsson’s new Icelandic drama, When the Light Breaks, manages to carve out a uniquely fresh and profoundly honest perspective on these universal experiences, offering a compelling reason to seek it out on the big screen.
This arresting film, from the acclaimed writer-director of Volcano and Sparrows, plunges us into a tumultuous 24 hours in the life of art student Una (a captivating Elín Hall). Her world is shattered by the news that her boyfriend, Diddi (Baldur Einarsson), has tragically died in a freak traffic accident. However, Una’s grief is a complicated, solitary burden: their relationship was a secret. Diddi was, in fact, en route to end things with his long-term girlfriend, Klara (Katla Njálsdóttir), when the accident occurred. The ensuing day sees Una navigating a maelstrom of emotions alongside Diddi’s childhood friends and, heartbreakingly, Klara herself, who rushes to Reykjavík upon hearing the news.
Una’s internal struggle is palpable – a potent mix of resentment towards the unknowing Klara, guilt over their clandestine love, and the crushing weight of a secret that now rests solely on her shoulders. This isn’t just grief; it’s grief compounded by the inability to mourn openly.
A Personal Journey Etched in Celluloid and Sound
When the Light Breaks is deeply personal for Rúnarsson, dedicated to two friends he lost. While fictional, the film powerfully channels his own encounters with loss. “I just had to get it out of my system,” he confessed to Variety, likening the process to removing a long-held box from a shelf – leaving an empty space, yet offering relief.
This elegiac tone is further amplified by the film’s score, which features a previously unused early composition by the late, revered Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson (known for his iconic work on Sicario and Arrival). Its inclusion feels like a poignant echo, adding another layer to the film’s exploration of loss and memory.
The Unflinching Honesty of “Emotional Debris”
What truly elevates When the Light Breaks is its unwavering, almost painful honesty. Cinematographer Sophia Olsson masterfully captures both the ethereal beauty of Icelandic summer sunrises and the stark horror of a highway tunnel explosion, mirroring the film’s own delicate balance of beauty and devastation. But it’s the script’s refusal to moralize or simplify that resonates most deeply.
Instead of pushing audiences to demonize Una or solely empathize with Klara, Rúnarsson invites us to sit with the uncomfortable, messy reality of both women’s shared and intensely private grief. There are no easy answers here, only a raw, intimate portrayal of human beings grappling with the unimaginable.
A standout scene, thick with unspoken tension, sees Una and Klara brushing their teeth side-by-side in Diddi’s bathroom. Una instinctively reaches for his toothbrush, then, remembering her charade, opts for toothpaste on her finger. Klara, in a gesture of solidarity or perhaps shared disorientation, does the same. The air hangs heavy with Una’s hidden familiarity with this space, a secret that Klara is oblivious to, yet somehow shares in its peripheral sorrow.
When the Light Breaks is a tapestry woven from such complicated, intimate moments. These small acts, occurring amidst the “emotional debris” of the worst day of their lives, carry profound irony, tragedy, hope, and even fleeting joy. It’s a film that understands that there’s no instruction manual for how to behave when life implodes.
Why This Under-the-Radar Gem Deserves Your Attention
As part of our Big Screen Spotlight series, When the Light Breaks is precisely the kind of under-the-radar theatrical release that demands to be seen. It’s a poignant, often heart-wrenching, but ultimately vital exploration of love, death, and the secrets that bind and break us.
If you’re seeking a film that lingers long after the credits roll, offering a nuanced and deeply human look at grief in its most complex forms, When the Light Breaks is out now and should be at the top of your watchlist.
