It’s 1918 and Tom Sherbourne (played by Michael Fassbender) is in self-exile after a devastating war.
In order to regroup and find his place in the world again, he moves to Australia to man a lighthouse for months on end.
Whilst there he meets and falls in love with Isabel (Alicia Vikander) who he marries and together they carve out a solitary, idyllic union on their remote island.
As your spider sense tells you, this utopia won’t last forever – and soon their grief over multiple stillbirths hangs in the air like fog.
But when a twist of fate washes a boat to shore containing a newborn baby, a life-changing choice is made and they must face the devastating consequences.
The implication of their following actions never really hits them until it’s far too late, which manifests in the form of a grieving Hannah (Rachel Weiz).
The desperately sad set of circumstances leads everyone to a completely impossible choice.
It becomes the most amazing episode of Eastenders EVER.
Whilst Alicia Vikander is simply brilliant (Leading Actress Oscar is between her and Emma Stone for La La Land surely?), Rachel Weiz deserves much praise for her understated and powerful performance.
This well constructed, beautiful film is a powerful reminder that life just doesn’t forget – our past never escapes us completely.
It’s a romantic and tough look at love, grief and choices – wonderfully acted and presented.
★★★★☆
Top five films this week
1. Doctor Strange
2. Trolls
3. Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
4. The Girl On The Train
5. Bridget Jones’s Baby
Catch Jamie’s Virgin Radio show every morning between 10am and 1pm. Listen on DAB, online or on the Virgin Radio app.
READ MORE;
Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals is sumptuous, dark and sexy – and quite a thing to behold
The Accountant review – Ben Affleck’s new movie is bizarrely bonkers but entertaining