When the Light Comes
When the Light Comes Licht | |
---|---|
Directed by | Stijn Coninx |
Written by | Heleen van der Laan Jean van de Velde |
Produced by | Paul Voorthuysen |
Cinematography | Theo Bierkens |
Edited by | Ludo Troch |
Music by | Dirk Brossé |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Concorde Film |
Release date |
|
Running time | 115 minutes |
Countries | Germany Belgium Netherlands Denmark |
Language | English |
When the Light Comes (Belgium: Licht, Netherlands: Waar blijft het licht, Germany: Die Stunde des Lichts) is a 1998 German-Dutch
Plot
Young Ellen decides to take a boat journey to Svalbard in northern Norway. She ends up wandering in Spitsbergen, where she spends winter in a cabin on a fjord surrounded by glaciers. She shares a cabin with a Norwegian trapper named Lars as she tries to adapt to the perilous climate and face dangers such as fighting polar bears.
Cast
- Francesca Vanthielen as Ellen
- Rick Engelkes as Robbert
- Joachim Król as Lars
- Reidar Sørensen as Ragnar
- Rodney Beddal as Jaromir
- Marit Bolling as Saleswoman
- Karin Lunden as Irina
- Morten Røhrt as Pilot 1
- Per Skjølsvik as Pilot 2
- Yana Yanezic as Gaumata
Production
The film was shot in 35 mm on location in northern Norway and Iceland.
Release and reception
The film was released primarily for the international market. The film was screened at the International Film Festival of Mar del Plata in Argentina, and won several awards in Belgium and several international awards.
Henk Ten Berge of the De Telegraaf described the film as "one of the strangest films ever produced by a Dutchman" and a "bizarre adventure" but praised the cinematography.[8] Filmkrant said that the relationship between Ellen and Norwegian trapper was "not that exciting", describing Lars as a "rather clumsy eccentric who barely seems to speak a word of English" but said that the character was "touchingly played" by German actor Joachim Król.[7] Film Krant also believed that the polar bear scene, whilst exciting, diverted the viewer's attention from their developing relationship, but praised the cinematography of the film by Theo Bierkens, describing it as "truly overwhelming".[7] Positif called it an "ecological robinsonade".[12] Marceau Verhaeghe of Cinergie praised the finesse and intelligence of screenwriter Jean van de Velde, and similarly the expertise and talent of Coninx, who he described in French as an "outstanding filmmaker" who "gives us an endearing movie, which takes advantage of even anecdotal aspects... to further enrich the story. A history of tensions, trials, but also tenderness, humor and love. In short, a really good history of cinema."[13] The soundtrack by top Flemish film score composer Dirk Brossé has been cited as one of his best works.[14]
References
- ISBN 978-0-7546-0878-3. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-7914-4748-2. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ISBN 978-90-389-1745-0. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ "Stijn Coninx - Biografie" (PDF) (in Dutch). Belgian Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers (SABAM). Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ISBN 9789075862423. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-233-99183-2. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ a b c "When the Light Comes" (in Dutch). Film Krant. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ a b c d "'When the light comes':klein verhaal in groots decor". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ "Stijn Coninx (1957)". Kuleuven. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ "Cast" (in Dutch). Weekendaanzeedefilm.be. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ Tromsø International Film Festival
- ^ Positif. Positif. 1999. p. 76. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ "Licht de Stijn Coninx" (in French). Cinergie. 1 February 1999. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ "Dirk Brossé". Air Edel. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
External links
- When the Light Comes at IMDb
- Trailer on YouTube