"Touch" is a film based on the novel by Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson and was released in theaters on July 12. Times for this film are limited considering it is in three different languages. It has Japanese, Icelandic, and English parts in the movie. This is an emotional romantic film that is for a mature audience.
Synopsis
The protagonist of this film, Kristófer, recently lost his wife. In search of his true love who vanished fifty years ago, he returned to England. Because of his health concerns, Kristófer embarks on this expedition before his time runs out. Flashbacks throughout the movie depict him falling in love with the girl from a Japanese restaurant fifty years ago.
Highs
The highs in this film are around the chemistry between Kristófer and his true love Miko. Their relationship and bond make the movie touching; it shows how they fell right from the beginning. This story has shown that regardless of how much time passes, the first love never disappears in the heart.
An additional highlight is the film's location, which primarily takes place in England and includes sequences in a Japanese restaurant. The restaurant's architecture is stunning and perfectly embodies Japanese culture. Given the surrounding snow and ocean, there are some breathtaking sights in Iceland. He also visits Japan, which offers beautiful scenery and eateries.
The acting of older Kristófer, played by Egill Ólafsson, is another highlight. Ólafsson does a beautiful and wholesome job of expressing his feelings towards Miko. His courage comes from his strength and will to find the love of his life.
The movie's plot was also a lovely tale as it is difficult to lose someone you loved fifty years ago. Along with the ending of the film, it was wholesome and gave the audience a happy ending rather than a mellow one. It has a deep story around the absence of Miko (portrayed by Kôki); her past is tragic and heartbreaking.
Lows
The language barrier in this movie made it difficult to follow the plot even with subtitles, which was one of its low points. The entirety of the movie was told in Icelandic, which made the plot difficult to understand early on. Some of the flashbacks were unclear as they failed to clarify that Kristófer was the young man attending the university with his friends.
The absence of background information on Kristófer's medical condition and the reason he had a time limit on his life was another low point. The doctor didn't explain his ailment in certain moments. Another gap in the story concerned Kristófer's earlier years and why, given his apparent knowledge, he abandoned his education to work at a restaurant.
Verdict
For those who enjoy international films, "Touch" is worth seeing because it wasn't dubbed, which was good given that there are three distinct languages. It's a captivating tale, bringing the book to life on screen.
Rating: 7 out of 10.
