- Date of Release: 29 May 2024
- Genre: Drama, Romance
- Language: Icelandic
Touch
Introduction
It is kind of ironic that the film titled ‘Touch’ is set against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic (atleast in the current timeline of the film). So clearly, ‘Touch’ here is symbolic of the virtual ones particularly for the protagonist who has been out of touch with his sweetheart from his younger days. This, immediately makes the setting of the drama grounded in many ways. Kristofer, now in his 70s, is seen leading a life of solitude by the seaside in Iceland. He has been a widower for a few years now, often spending his time talking to his daughter over the phone, and leading a lonely life with only his loneliness for company. A quick diagnosis about his deteriorating mental health reveals an early stage of Alzeimer’s, something that automatically acts as a catalyst in the drama for him to connect with his past before he undergoes a complete memory loss. And hence, the journey of Kristofer becomes intimate in many ways, even as you see him booking his flight to London with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic doubling up as an additional timer in his life, while the universe conspires for him to meet his sweetheart, one last time.
Story & Screenplay
The template of Touch, Iceland’s Official Submission to the Oscars of 2025, is similar to the recently released Hindi film Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha, which basically means that the structure is non-linear, often oscillating between the current and the past timeline. And interestingly, there are two different virtues tagged to each timeline – longing and uncertainty in the current timeline, and the feeling of a newfound love and incompleteness in the past. Both timelines move parallely in the narrative that automatically contributes to the drama being layered, with both set of emotions contributing to a giant heart that slowly pricks its way to your soul. Tonally, the drama is bittersweet while inculcating such restrained emotions that you begin to root for the young couple while being aware of their current fate. And even as you are initially been kept in the dark about the reason of their separation, you still fall in love while watching the drama unfold through its two protagonists.
In the past timeline, you are reintroduced to Kristofer, a handsome boy in his 20s, a quietly charming personality with idealistic views that invariably lands him a job as a dishwasher in a Japanese restaurant. There, he is acquainted to the owner of the restaurant and his daughter Miko, with whom he shares a cordial and intimate relationship, respectively. Miko is a girl of a few words, quietly putting across her views in the most gentle way possible while Kristofer, slowly begins to flourish at his new job. Their budding love story is symbolic of the two cultures that collide (Icelandic and Japanese), while often finding a common ground of epic proportions in the form their newfound relationship, that would soon run into roadblocks.
The era of the past timeline of the drana effectively being staged in the 60s, has an important role in how the budding love story shapes up. In fact, one of the key events of world history is linked to the love story, or rather the major roadblock that eventually transpires. But in between, the love story is supremely intimate with the quick glances, or the palpable intimacy at the breakfast table, that is essentially old-school and quite effective in the language of love. And each episode of their budding love story plays out from the chapters of the book (and hardly a surprise as the drama is infact adapted from a bestseller), that automatically adds layers to the narrative. Elsewhere in the current timeline, you are witness to the much older Kristofer who is dealing with uncertainty, even as he reminisces his good times, with age reflective on his face that resonates with the shifting landscapes of the town that he strolls in. Even when he jumps continents, it is only out of a sense of longing, and the fear of soon having to forget his past at the behest of his new disease. The inner turmoil of the protagonist is real and grounded.
There is a sense of void of Kristofer that he hopes to bridge in his final journey, that results in a tender, poignant and extremely moving final act. Sure, the beats of the writing are predictable but the emotions are so real that you do invest in the journey of Kristofer that has now spanned over decades, and into his final leg of his memory. And so when the duo eventually meet, it does create such a bittersweet moment of years being lost, even while the love story has stood the test of time and having a gift to offer almost as a surprise too. Yet, the ending of the drama has to be more realistic and bittersweet in its truest sense – Kristofer did originally set out to meet his Miko, which he did pleasantly. Yet, you see him being aloof when the duo meet their son – a scene moving because Kristofer in his heart, longed for love and a family with Miko but, his mental condition of him suffering from Alzeimer’s did not push him to begin a new relationship, while also being fully aware that his son, now adopted and having a family of his own, is happy in life. And so, the parting shot of Kristofer and Miko strolling on the street is also symbolic of their last dance, a journey that started in London and ending in Hiroshima, where they literally take a nostalgic trip down their memory lane – probably for the last time. The screenplay is filled with emotions that get to you by the end of the drama, rather beautifully!
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are gentle and profound while retaining the sensitivity of the drama, even as the lines are laced with purity and a range of emotions. The BGM is used to delicately elevate the proceedings with its notes of longing and melancholy that gently tug the strings of your heart only to pierce into your soul. The cinematography comprises of of a series of mid-shots that allow you a broader spectrum into the love story, only to keep getting closer to their proximities as the drama further unfolds. The editing was a tricky proposition given the structure of the drama, and the idea of frequently oscillating between the past and the present. And keeping that in mind, the editing was pretty smooth as it navigated across the two timelines pretty seamlessly. Director Baltasar Kormakur deals with his delicate subject with utmost sensitivity, being mindful of the emotions that transpire through his characters and the world-building that itself had a bittersweet feeling (resembling the core relationship of the two protagonists). He didn’t wish to complicate the narrative with melodrama, while being content with its simplicity that works wonderfully well in the larger scheme of things. The direction is wonderful here.
Performances
The performances are excellent by the members of the cast. Yoko Narahashi as the elder Miko is laced with grace and gratitude coupled with the presence of bittersweet emotions that she pulls off beautifully. Masahiro Motoki as Takahashi is sincere and earnest while having his moments to shine. Koki as the younger Miko looks pretty and has a quiet little charm to her that essentially enhances the smaller nuances of her performance (like a playful glance). She is wonderful to witness in a gentle little performance laced with a layer of emotions. Palmi Kormakur as the younger Kristofer is righteous and charming while resonating quite an affable quality with his character. He has a terrific screen presence that makes him stand amidst the crowd in many ways. Egill Olafsson as the elder Kristofer is more dignified with maturity reflecting on his face, even as he retains a huge chunk of the palpable emotions from the past while integrating a sense of longing and uncertainty to it. It was a brilliant performance reflective in that beautifully woven scene wherein he meets Miko for the first time in ages, with tears trickling down his cheeks.
Conclusion
Iceland’s Official Submission to the Oscars of 2025, Touch is a sweeping romantic drama of heartfelt proportions and searingly bittersweet moments of longing that makes for a beautifully poignant watch.
