What a gorgeous and poignant film Rúnar Rúnarsson’s WHEN THE LIGHT BREAKS is! I don’t think anything else I have seen got under my skin this way since Aftersun.
Taking place over the course of a single day, Cannes Un Certain Regard opening film follows Una as she tries to cope with an unexpected tragedy in the company of a group of friends. Elin Hall, who was very good in 2018 addiction drama Let Me Fall, gives a breakthrough performance here, brilliantly portraying the nuances of all the emotions Una is going through.
The film’s symmetrical structure gives a sense of closure despite its concise running time. It is one of the best films I’ve seen this year.
