Photo by A Sweeping Love Story Spanning 50 Years
Touch, the latest film from Baltasar Kormákur, is a romantic and thrilling story that spans several decades and continents. The film follows one man’s emotional journey to find his first love who disappeared 50 years ago, before his time runs out.
The film’s gentle touch is a welcome respite from the usual melodrama
The story charts Kristófer’s social awakening, from his days as a young adult in the early 1970s to his later years. We see him leave the prestigious London-based school for economics to take up a job washing dishes at a Japanese restaurant, a position his friends perceive as beneath him. But Kristófer is drawn to all things Japanese, from learning the language to exploring the Japanese perspective of atrocities committed in war.
Kristófer’s quiet sensitivity is fittingly brought back into play during the later portion of the film
In the present day, Kristófer has been recently diagnosed with a memory-related brain condition, and he is determined to reconnect with Miko, the love of his life, before he passes on. The film’s gentle touch is a welcome respite from the usual melodrama, and the chemistry between Kristófer and Miko is sweet and moving.
The film’s portrayal of the pandemic is a poignant reminder of the world we live in
Touch is not just a sweeping love story, but it’s also a film that explores deeper issues of society in the aftermath of major historical events. The film’s portrayal of the pandemic is a poignant reminder of the world we live in, and the film’s emotional wallop feels more than earned by the time the answers arrive.
Miko’s father, played by Masahiro Motoki, is a nuanced and complex character
The film’s confidence in its storytelling is evident in its gentle pacing, and the performances by Palmi Kormákur and Egill Ólafsson are entirely synchronized, ensuring credibility that, across 50 years, this is the same man.
Miko, played by Kóki, exhibits a sweetness and a lust for life
Touch is a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll, and its emotional impact is a testament to the power of love and human connection.
