Touch

The love story, which unfolds in silence, traverses different eras and places but never misleads the audience, captivating the viewer's heart with its wonderful direction (director Baltasar Kormákur) and the beauty of the camera work (cameraman Bergsteinn Björgúlfsson). Although the story is heartbreaking and at times cruel, songs play an important role in this film to prevent it from becoming too serious. The heartbreaking Icelandic folk song sung at the beginning by an older Christopher (Egill Ólafsson) becomes the central theme of the film. Next, the song by Arai-san (Tatsuya Tagawa) from the Japanese restaurant where young Christopher (Palmi Kormákur) works depicts the love affair between Christopher and Miko (Koki, the restaurant chef's daughter, the father played by Masahiro Motoki), sometimes romantic, sometimes comical and heartbreaking. Along the way, the Icelandic folk songs sung by young Christopher are wonderful, and the karaoke by Kutaragi (Masatoshi Nakamura), whom old Christopher met in Japan, actually fits the theme of the film. The film ends with a moving performance of an Icelandic folk song sung by older Christopher while holding the hand of Miko (Yoko Narahashi), whom he sees for the first time in 50 years. The music used in the film (music by Högni Egilsson) is also very beautiful, but it is rare to see a film where the characters sing so many songs (except, of course, for musical films).

The acting was great by the young and old actors. The pacing was really good. I was worried by the fact the movies constantly jumps between present and past, but I was able to follow without issue most of the times. The story flows very well, and I never lost interest over the 2 hours timeframe. It has a solid conclusion where a few questions are still ligering, but not major to main plotline. It felt like I just followed a old man following his footsteps in a very wholesome journey, and he went through lots of things. The soundtrack in the movie is minimal which I appreciate. I never heard icelandic before. Also, this movie inspiries you to learn a language which is great for those trying to learn a new language.

It's a search-for-lost-love romantic drama set in 1969 London, England, and March 1980 in London and Japan, with a few scenes between those dates. Kristófer (Palmi Kormakur/Egill Ólafsson) is an elderly widower in Iceland facing increasingly fragile health just as the Covid outbreak is arriving in 2020. He leaves for London to search for a Japanese woman, Miko (Koki/Yoki Narahashi), whom he met in London in 1969 while dropping out of graduate school at the London School of Economics as a frustrated political radical.

We see Kristófer's 2020 search for Miko interspersed with scenes in 1969 when he worked initially as a dishwasher in a restaurant owned by Miko's widowed father, Takahashi-san (Masahiro Motoki). The film's 1969 scenes follow Kristófer's increasing fascination with Japanese culture, and more particularly with Miko. Their relationship grows until Takahashi-san and Miko suddenly disappear. By "Touch's" end, we learn the reasons for Miko's disappearance that stretch back to World War II.

I loved this movie, partly because I've always been a hopeless romantic. But "Touch" brings together so much from cross-cultural love, the struggle to understand never-before-seen illnesses, and the power of remembering first loves. "Touch" (a recurring visual theme between lovers) perhaps has a bit too neat an ending, but it was all very satisfying. I came close to giving it a 10.

Deeply touching movie, where you slowly get to intimately know several full lives and a lot of partial ones. The main characters feel honest and genuine, while you want to know more even about he supporting cast. The scenes feels right and true, without affectation.

Surprisingly, although every scene appears to have plenty of room, the movie actually cover a lot of ground. .it doesn't stall and ofren takes you in surprising directions, only to make a lot of sense after a few scenes.

At the end, you have experienced the roller-coaster of several lifetimes.

Saw this with few expectatuons, but we were engrossed, moved, laughed and cried,and loved it.

Make sure to watch this absolute delight!

Kristófer is told by his doctors that he needs to resolve any of his unfinished business, looking at his health condition and 50 years ago, he had a love story which had abruptly ended. He had quit his college, standing by his beliefs and starts working as a dishwasher at a restaurant named Nippon in London. It is run by Takahashi and soon Kristófer falls in love with Takahashi's daughter Miko. They are the survivors of the Hiroshima attack and Takahashi disapproves Miko being in a relationship. Now 50 years later, Kristófer had led a life of a chef and is a lonely widower. He seeks Miko and travels to Japan. Will he meet Miko and find out the reason why their love story had an abrupt end and what else does he get to know, forms rest of the story.

The ignorant me learnt about Hibakusha through this film. Touch indeed is a must watch love story with solid drama and superb casting. The non-linear narrative, jumping 50 years to and from, establishes the story perfectly. Palmi Kormakur and Egill Ólafsson as young and older Kristófer stood out for me along with the young Miko played by Koki. The shy Kristófer and ofcourse Miko's romance, the sparkling chemistry brings out the magic while 50 years later, Egill Ólaffson's mature eyes do the rest especially during the crucial scenes. The final reveal was heart touching too and the silent reaction is spot on. The conservative Takahashi and his fear is justified to an extent too but then being an Asian, it is much more easier to buy into the strict father. I am always up for such love stories that need not have an happy ending but juggle between romance and loneliness, being in love and the feeling of losing the precious, while life is filled with the memories. I definitely liked this film a lot and recommend it to everyone.