Films about lighthouses often feature themes of isolation, mystery, and the struggle against the elements. Lighthouses have long been a symbol of hope and guidance, and as such, they make for compelling settings in film. These films often explore the psychological effects of solitude and the eerie beauty of the coastal landscape.
“The Light Between Oceans”, 2016
Director: Derek Cianfrance
This film follows the story of a lighthouse keeper and his wife who rescue and adopt an infant girl adrift at sea. As they raise the child, they discover the consequences of their decision, unraveling a heartbreaking moral dilemma.
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Rachel Weisz, Florence Clery, Jack Thompson, Thomas Unger, Jane Menelaus, Garry McDonald, Anthony Hayes, Benedict Hardie, Emily Barclay, Bryan Brown, Stephen Ure, Peter McCauley, Leon Ford, Jonathan Wagstaff, Gerald Bryan, Elizabeth Hawthorne, Rosella Hart, Michael Wallace, Peter Hayden, Gary Blackman, Carmel McGlone, Jeffrey Thomas, Edwin Lancashire, Dean Morganty, Elsa May, Kerrie Waterworth, John Bach, Marshall Napier, Hilary Norris, Miriam Noonan, Caren Pistorius, Graham Warman, George Vozar, Georgie Gascoigne, Imogen Wilmhurst, Lucy Wilmhurst, Emily Wilmhurst, Elliot Newbery, Evangeline Newbery, Christine Foote, Sinead Fitzgerald, Scott Wills;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 130 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
“The Lighthouse”, 2019
Director: Robert Eggers
Set in the late 19th century, this psychological thriller chronicles the descent into madness of two lighthouse keepers on a remote New England island. As tensions rise and secrets are revealed, the isolation of the lighthouse becomes a crucible for their inner turmoil.
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe, Valeriia Karaman, Logan Hawkes, Kyla Nicolle, Shaun Clarke, Pierre Richard, Preston Hudson, Jeffrey Cruts, Sully Seagull;
Production year: 2019;
Genre: horror, fantasy, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 109 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “The Lighthouse” on the website imdb.com
“To the Lighthouse”, 1983
Director: Colin Gregg
Based on Virginia Woolf's novel, this film captures the emotional and psychological complexities of a family's visit to a lighthouse in the Hebrides. The story unfolds with a lyrical and introspective examination of human relationships and the passage of time.
Starring: Rosemary Harris, Michael Gough, Suzanne Bertish, Lynsey Baxter, Pippa Guard, Kenneth Branagh, T.P. McKenna, Nicholas Gecks, David Parfitt, Craig Warnock, Jessie Walker Stewart, Chris Lahr, Kristin Milward, Simon Dutton, Nicola Wright, Daniel Murray, David Daker, Jonathan Harvey, Doreen Keogh, Paula Jacobs, Julia Prentice, David Shaw, Nicholas Davey;
Production year: 1983;
Genre: drama;
Duration: 115 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,2;
More information about the film “To the Lighthouse” on the website imdb.com
“The Vanishing”, 2018
Director: Kristoffer Nyholm
In this Dutch-French thriller, three lighthouse keepers on a remote island encounter a mysterious stranger who brings chaos and tragedy to their isolated existence. The film delves into themes of obsession, betrayal, and the haunting power of the sea.
Starring: Peter Mullan, Gerard Butler, Emma King, Gary Lewis, Connor Swindells, Ken Drury, Gary Kane, Søren Malling, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Roderick Gilkison, Gary Mclellan, John Taylor;
Production year: 2018;
Genre: thriller, drama, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 107 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,9;
More information about the film “The Vanishing” on the website imdb.com
“Pete's Dragon”, 2016
Director: David Lowery
While not exclusively focused on lighthouses, this family-friendly film features a lighthouse keeper and his daughter who encounter a young boy with a special connection to a dragon. The lighthouse serves as a beacon of hope and safety in this heartwarming tale of friendship and adventure.
Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford, Oakes Fegley, Oona Laurence, Wes Bentley, Karl Urban, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Marcus Henderson, Aaron Jackson, Philip Grieve, Steve Barr, Keagan Carr Fransch, Jade Valour, Augustine Frizzell, Francis Biggs, Jasper Putt, Esmée Myers, Gareth Reeves, Levi Alexander, Jim McLarty, Brandie Stephens, Josephine Stephens, Tai McKenzie, Ian Harcourt, Mia Thomas, Ruby Acevedo, Oliver Neil, James Allcock, Annabelle Malaika Süess, Olly Presling, Jenesis Au-Yeung, Daria Ponomaryova, Bukhosi Ngewenya, William J. Rawbone, Fraser McLeod, Richard Falkner, Jason Fitch, David J. Muzzerall, Geoff Naylor, Jade Healy, John Kassir, Jude Swanberg, Bart the Bear, Augie Davis, Craig Hall, Chris Hewer, Tom Kay, Tim Wong;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: fantasy, action, drama, comedy, adventure, family;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 102 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,7;
More information about the film “Pete's Dragon” on the website imdb.com
These films about lighthouses showcase the multifaceted nature of these iconic structures, weaving tales of love, loss, mystery, and human resilience against the backdrop of the ever-changing sea.
In conclusion, films about lighthouses serve as powerful metaphors for isolation, guidance, and the human spirit's resilience against nature's relentless forces. Whether exploring the psychological depths of characters trapped in their own emotional storms, as seen in “The Lighthouse,” or celebrating the profound connection between humanity and the sea in classics like “The Light Between Oceans,” these films illuminate the multifaceted role that lighthouses play in our lives. Through stunning cinematography and evocative storytelling, they invite viewers to reflect on themes of hope, duty, and the search for meaning amidst the tumultuous waves of existence, ultimately reminding us that even in the darkest times, a light can guide us home.
