Something tells me that The Light Between Oceans won’t start with the opening and closing of a butterfly knife. No, this trailer feels like a departure for writer/director Derek Cianfrance, who previously wowed audiences with his ragged love story Blue Valentine and generational epic The Place Beyond the Pines. Those films took a toll on their audiences, and while The Light Between Oceans won’t cover easy material, it looks like it’s coming in a melodramatic package that will make it easier to digest.
Cianfrance built quite a reputation off his previous films, and the long wait between this movie’s production wrap in 2014 and its release two years later has raised some eyebrows. Rumors about problems are bound to fester given the anticipation, but the delay could be due to nothing more than Cianfrance’s meticulous way of making films. According to an interview with Entertainment Weekly (read that here), he shot 209 hours of footage, and the story had to be found in all that material.
And consider this: that’s 209 hours of performances from quality actors like Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Rachel Weisz. Sure, the baby probably ruined a few takes, but it’s no wonder it took him so long to cut the film down to an endurable length.
It’s still possible that this book adaptation slipped away from Cianfrance, who has never adapted material or completed a solo screenplay before. However, given his history and the rest of the talent involved in this production, it’s hard to imagine a final product that isn’t worth checking out.
The Light Between Oceans is directed by Derek Cianfrance and stars Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Rachel Weisz. It will be released in the U.S. on September 2nd, 2016 and in the U.K. on November 4th, 2016. For international release dates, click here.
Do you think the film’s long post-production indicates big problems? Let us know in the comments!
Does content like this matter to you?
Become a Member and support film journalism. Unlock access to all of Film Inquiry`s great articles. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about cinema - get access to our private members Network, give back to independent filmmakers, and more.