Written and directed by Oskar Nilsson, co-written by star Robin Soans, based on a true story about a blind Irish man who is reunited with the British soldier who shot him 50 years prior during the Irish troubles. After many years of contemplation and reflection, the pair meet for the first time to discuss the harrowing events which altered both their lives forever. Also starring: Mark Lambert and Teresa Jennings.
There’s a growing nostalgic and sentimental air which permeates Darkness and Light from very early on. It sets the stage for an extremely contemplative scene and fills the atmosphere with a mix of regret, disappointment, closure and relief. Helped by its superbly high quality visual and striking cinematography. Its aesthetic and movements are thoughtful and patient, taking a style that’s like a gentle guiding hand, a kind observer. Although it can occasionally feel somewhat awkward, there are a few moments where it tries to push the tension or complex nature of the situation and doesn’t quite have a strong enough grasp to make it land.
A big part of that is Oskar Nilsson puts a great deal of focus on the lighter side of Darkness and Light, which can make building the complicated and heavy nature of their meeting quite difficult. Especially in the latter half, it builds a touching sweetness but perhaps a bit too much. It’s undoubtedly a lovely story that has a meaningful message about forgiveness and its healing nature, but its balance means that it doesn’t hold as much weight as it could. It only briefly establishes each character on their own, their feelings and struggle before moving on to their meeting. Not giving enough time to let the dark side of this story cement its place, to lend more power to its light side.
However, the leading performances from Robin Soans and Mark Lambert do strike a stronger balance between the emotions at work. There’s a great hesitancy, nervousness and vulnerability in the beginning of their interaction. You can feel them testing the waters but as the film enters its second half, they do follow that same pattern and fall more into sweet territory. Although, that’s not to say it isn’t moving and hugely positive.
Darkness and Light is a touching story of understanding, forgiveness and healing. It has a fantastic aesthetic with great detail, colouring and a thoughtful touch. The performances are affecting and surprisingly relatable for such a specific experience. The atmosphere can tend to lean towards the lighter side of this story, not quite balancing its complexities and becoming a little too sweet. Nevertheless, it’s a meaningful tale with a very positive message.
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