When the Light Comes-Light (1998)

Directed by: Stijn Coninx | 110 minutes | romance, adventure | Actors: Francesca Vanthielen, Joachim Król, Rick Engelkes, Reidar Sorensen, Rodney Beddal, Marit Blling, Karin Lunden, Morten Rohrt, Per Skiolsvik

A Belgian actress who plays a Dutch woman and a German who plays a Danish man: that can’t go well, can it? And it doesn’t. ‘When the Light Comes’ has therefore become a failed film that fails to convince on any front. ‘When the Light Comes’ is based on the autobiographical novel ‘Where does the light stay’ by Heleen van der Laan.

It is obviously not fair to judge a film solely on the rather unfortunate casting choice of the director. If ‘When the Light Comes’ had only had to do with a Flemish actress who had to put down a traditional Dutch girl with her unctuous accent, then we could still agree. Countless movies use actors who use the most outlandish accents in hopes of accurately portraying their character’s nationality. Just think of the historical epic ‘Alexander’ (2004) where almost the entire cast spoke with an artificial accent. That film has been kicked into the ground by the entire guild of critics. But a film like ‘Enemy at The Gates’ (2001) was, despite the strange accents, extremely enjoyable.

Unfortunately, the criticism of Stijn Coninx’s film does not end with the strange choice of casting. In short: Flemish actress Francesca Vanthielen is immensely annoying as the Dutch Ellen. Her character is arrogant, selfish and very childish. The spoiled brat keeps on complaining and whining throughout the movie. Every dip she has is accompanied by squeaking and whining violins, while Vanderthielen’s pout and big Bambi eyes are supposed to provide drama. But how on earth are you supposed to sympathize with an insufferable woman who behaves as if she’s an injured princess?

In addition, the relentless flow of explanatory voice-overs does the film no good either. In these monologues, the convulsively suppressed accent of the Flemish actress really stands out. Vanderthielen talks about her character’s feelings in a rather feeble way in a stately, wooden way. The childish way in which the diary fragments are told are very annoying and take far too long.

Between the monologues there is also a story to be told. A story full of incredible moments and crazy plot twists. The course of events does not match at all and seem to have flickered into it clumsily. For example, the main character wants to do holiday work for a fur trapper, but she reacts shocked and indignant when the man wants to kill a seal to strip off its fur. The well-known pansy then works overtime when the cute seal comes into view. Well, fur doesn’t grow on trees.
The pivot of the story is the relationship between the trapper, reasonably played by the German Król and Ellen. At first the student is disgusted by the contact-disordered Dane, but gradually she likes him more and more. The fact that the plot of ‘When the Light Comes’ is paper thin does not have to be an obstacle in principle. The film ‘The Snow Walker’ (2003) proved that you can still make a strong, atmospheric film with a similar, minimalistic starting point. Coninx goes wrong with the appalling casting, the rickety script and the annoying characters.

The relationship between the two is never convincing. There is no chemistry, no enthusiasm, nothing at all. The clashing characters just don’t show up. That is not entirely attributable to the actors, the script also does not cooperate. So you have the bitchy asshole on one side and a passive, contact-disordered man on the other. The man lets everything pass and swallows all insults to him like sweet cake. It should come as no surprise that this combination does not exactly produce dazzling cinema.
In addition, the silent trapper Lars does not want to come to life. His rather horny character does not help. A man who keeps silent and only opens his mouth to vent his sexual urges out of nowhere is not exactly an interesting or appealing character. Yet as a viewer you are condemned to him, because he is an essential part of the film.

A minor part of ‘When The Light Comes’ is fulfilled by ‘soapie’ Rick Engelkes. The name of the Dutch actor is prominent on the poster of this film, but he is only on screen for 5 minutes. Engelkes’ acting is limited by widely displaying his indelible grin and some mumbling.

Halfway through the film, a polar bear has broken loose to provide some tension. If that then apparently does not go to full satisfaction according to the makers, the secret weapon is pulled out of the closet. That’s right: sex. Out of nowhere, the two suddenly become very fond of each other. Apparently that had to become clear after a funny series of slides on the ice, because suddenly the two started laughing at each other. This kind of twisted plot and abruptly interrupted storylines clear the way for broadly drawn out, clinical sex scenes in which Vanderthielen’s breasts in particular play the leading role.

Before the lovemaking session starts, Coninx makes way for a completely irrelevant shower scene in which the naked body of the lead actress had to provide some eroticism. Now Vanderthielen certainly looks good, but she’s clearly not comfortable in the misplaced nude scenes. The cold, distant way in which Coninx exposes it will not excite even an adolescent with an unstoppable hormone balance.

Is there nothing positive to say about this film? Well not by this reviewer. Apparently the critics liked the film as this product has won three awards and has been nominated three times at several festivals. All that stays with me after watching ‘When the Light Comes’ is the poignant quote from trapper Lars as he bites off in a rare moment in: “You’re no trapper, you’re a tourist!”

You couldn’t put it more succinctly. This cinematic mishmash full of actors from all over the world feels like a hellish holiday without end. A trip in which that horny German and that empty-headed Flemish girl are constantly on your lip and begging for your attention. A journey that leaves you, as an uninhibited tourist, hopelessly frustrated. There is no better reason to book cancellation insurance.