Studio: Universal Pictures
Release Date: 9/24/2024
Rating: R
Film Grade: B-
The Story: Looking back on days gone by.Precious to my heart.Those sweet memories stay with me day and night.So never, ever I forget.So opens the movie as Kristófer sings along with the rest of the male choir he’s part of as they stand outside in the harsh winter of Iceland. The song has never been more relevant to him, as he’s taking stock of his life and what still remains of it. His memory is not what it had been; fine movements are increasingly difficult. Recent travel restrictions due to Covid have affected his restaurant to the point where he has to close it down for the foreseeable future.
Thoughts of his life and love from over fifty years ago occupy much of his days, so he decides to leave home and head back to London, in hopes of finding her once again.
My Take: Touch is a slow-paced romantic drama that interweaves the past and the present as it tells the story of Kristófer, starting with him as an economics student in the 1970s trying to find his place in the world, to the present day.
We join him in London when he first encounters Miko, daughter of the Japanese restaurant owner that he hopes to work for. About half of the film explores their time together as they slowly grow and intertwine with each other while their cultures, time, and locations intermix for the audience. While the film moves at a leisurely pace, there is an unexpected depth and richness to all the characters’ stories that is revealed bit by bit.
The film features a mixture of languages, whether it’s English, Icelandic, or Japanese. Subtitles are provided as needed, but much of the messaging is provided by looks, and small gestures. Director Baltasar Kormákur’s last film was Beast, so this is quite a departure for him. The actors’ performances all fall on the natural side rather than overwrought melodrama, keeping the story grounded.
Kormákur worked closely on the screenplay with Olaf Olafsson, author of the novel the movie is adapted from, and they’ve crafted a deep and complex set of characters’ stories that slowly unfold. In addition, the film also includes some headier, unexpected themes, giving it an added layer of complexity.
Visuals: There’s a contrast in styles between the two time periods. Current day visuals are noticeably crisper and clearer, while flashbacks are both softer and filled with either noise or artificial grain. The technique works, presenting the past as an idealist, golden, dream-like feel. But that romantic look is also accompanied by numerous lens artifacts, like flares and halos. No doubt they were intentional, but I found them unnecessarily distracting. That’s really the only flaw I could find in the picture. Overall, the image quality is fantastic and skillfully transports the viewer to both the various times and places of the film.
Audio: The DTS-HD MA 5.1 works just fine for this low-key drama. The opening chorus is particularly haunting and effective in setting the tone of Kristófer’s current-day life. The cold winds of Iceland establish the lack of physical and emotional warmth that surrounds him. In contrast, the lively sounds of London’s past connect him to that city and budding time of his life. There aren’t an abundant number of sound effects, but they are there when called for in the story. The musical score alternates between lyrical string and piano melodies, with some period piece thrown in when needed. It’s a pleasant mixture that never lapses into sappiness but nicely underscores the emotional moments.
Special Features: There are a few deleted scenes that add some extra details to the story. Worth watching for the curious, but dispensable.
Final Verdict: With the abundance of summer blockbusters hitting home release right now, it’s easy to forget that smaller, serious films are still to be found. While I wouldn’t classify it as a tearjerker, it blends feelings of momentary joy on top of underlying melancholy. Audience members will easily sympathize with Kristófer’s desire to reconnect with his lost past as he enters his twilight years.
I found it worth watching, and my wife enjoyed it more than I did. If you’re looking for a smaller, more intimate film as a change of pace, it’s worth checking out.
Touching Fact: Olaf Olafsson, who plays current-day Kristófer, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease before the filming of Touch, adding authenticity to the role.
My Review System:JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 117” Width with Infinitely Variable Height
Monolith by Monoprice HTP-1 16 Channel Processor with Dirac Live
Monolith by Monoprice 7x200 Watts Amp
Monolith by Monoprice 3x200 Watts + 6x100 Watts Amp
JBL Studio 590 for Left, Center, Right, Wides, and Rears
JBL Studio 580 for Side Surrounds
JBL Studio SCS 8 for Tops
JTR Captivator 1400 Subwoofer X 4
Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
Oppo BDP-93
NVIDIA Shield Android TV - 4K
Xbox One X
HTPC Running madVR (work in progress)
Remote: URC MX-780
Mini DSP 2X4 HD controlling all subwoofers
APC S15 Power Conditioner with Battery Backup
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