L'EQUIPIER

In 1963, Antoine (Gregorie Derangere) wounded in the Algerian war, arrives at the small Breton island of Ouessant to join the team of lighthouse keepers, replacing the tower's adored deceased patriarch, Emile. The locals feel the job should have gone to one of their own, and Antoine is not only a stranger, but a novice, and struggles to fit in.

Easygoing and good-humoured despite the animosity directed toward him, Antoine slowly bonds with sullen, unfriendly Yvon (Philippe Torrenton) during their periods of extended isolation working together in the offshore lighthouse. Despite this, the natives back at the island still murmur - and much more besides - when Antoine, the perpetual outsider, walks past them. Worse for Antoine is that he is unable to disguise his deep attraction to Yvon's wife Mabe (Sandrine Bonnaire) - and this threatens both of them.

With an immensely insightful script that captures the nuances of bitterness that inflect even the friendliest words, director Phillipe Lioret (MADEMOISELLE) explores how places like Ouessent can be majestic natural wonders to tourists, but tiring, dead-end prisons to long-time residents. Rarely have the elements - wind, water and storms - not to mention light - been harnessed with such poetic grandeur - and the majestically lonely physical setting is nothing short of captivating. THE LIGHT is a graceful, sweeping story of simmering passions - a lucid and tactile viewing experience.

France - 2004 - Drama - 104 mins
In French with English subtitles

Director: Phillipe Lioret
Script: Phillipe Lioret, Emmanuel Courcol, Christian Sinniger
Cast: Sandrine Bonnaire, Phillipe Torrenton, Gregori Derangere, Emile Dequenne