When the Light Breaks (2024) Review | Rúnar Rúnarsson’s visionary film

When the Light Breaks (2024) 

What’s the plot?

Una grapples with grief while harbouring a secret, unable to fully express her emotions, as she navigates challenging events swirling around her.

Film Probe Review 

When the light breaks is a heartfelt commentary of human nature and the process of grief. Although, this feature makes the idea of loss and grief all the more painful and torturous as Una is forced to keep her true emotions hidden. Watching as the character subdues her feelings, locks away her inner turmoil to keep her secrets hidden was tormenting and highly enticing as a viewer. I was roped into the drama and heartache of the plot, Una is trapped in a web of her own making and forced to deal with the consequences of her actions. 

When the Light Breaks kept me engaged from beginning to end, I was engrossed by the characters, their dynamics and the looming explosion of emotion boiling to the surface. Patiently waiting for everything to spill over, anxiously waiting for the weight of emotions to weigh Una down. Although this feature is filled with drama, betrayal, loss and guilt at its core this film is about relationships and supporting one another. Throughout this feature we known Una is in the wrong, she is holding back her feelings to protect those around her but continuing to cause herself more and more pain. Una is not the villain of this story, instead she is a victim of life’s cruel hand, much like the rest of the characters in this film. 

Star performance

Elín is the core to this feature, the character is complex and deals with an ordeal of emotions throughout the feature. She begins the film in love, happy, full of hope and the next minute all of that is ripped away from her. Una is a deeply intriguing character and Elín performed her beautifully. Elín was able to give a range of emotions with the most subtle facial expressions and movements, for the most part Una gives nothing away, she holds everything back. Elín held in all of her emotions painfully well, I was in awe of her until eventually she explodes with guilt, sadness and realisation. For most of the film Una is in utter denial, Elín gave an incredibly strong performance that was powerful, moving and beyond memorable. 

Final Thoughts

Overall, When the Light Breaks was an excellent depiction of grief and guilt, two emotions which often go hand in hand. This feature experiments with these emotions in an unconventional way - forcing Una to hide her feelings and shy away from telling anyone the truth. I loved the believability of the film, it was raw in both the performances and the writing. When the Light Breaks felt real, the characters felt real and their emotions felt real. I was drawn into the drama and the sadness of this feature, I highly recommend it. 

A Note from the Director:

“The film asks how we deal with our roles in drastically shifting relationships – and encourages us to find love and beauty even in the face of pain.”

– Rúnar Rúnarsson

Probe Points

★★★★☆