Italian
A heartfelt journey: Baltasar Kormákur’s “Touch” explores love, loss, and reconciliation
A new direction for Baltasar Kormákur
At the Taormina Film Festival, Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur unveiled his latest film, “Touch,” a romantic drama adapted from the novel by Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson. Known for his high-octane films like “Beast” and “Everest,” Kormákur takes a more introspective turn with this story of an old man, Kristófer, reconciling with a lost love while facing early-onset dementia. The film, released last week in the U.S. by Focus Features, has already garnered rave reviews and a 93% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Watch the trailer for “Touch”
A personal connection
Kormákur’s interest in the novel was piqued when his daughter gifted it to him for Christmas. ”I started reading about this old man looking back on his life, and slowly but surely it started tightening its grip on me. It was weirdly a page-turner in the most relaxed way,” he shared. The director’s recent divorce also influenced his adaptation of the book. “Going through a traumatic experience like a divorce is almost like going through a loss situation. And I think it’s probably this I need to project into the world.”
Collaboration with the novelist
Working closely with Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson, Kormákur found a firm ally in the novelist. “A film has to be the director’s vision. It can’t be the novelist’s. But Ólafur was very, very generous and had no problem with me changing things. He realized that from the beginning and wanted to help me visualize the way I wanted to change it.”
Casting challenges and triumphs
One of the most intriguing aspects of “Touch” is the casting of Kormákur’s own son, Pálmi Kormákur, as the young Kristófer. The decision came about when a casting director suggested it, and after an audition tape was sent to department heads and partners, including producer Mike Goodridge and Focus, the choice was clear. ”I honestly didn’t have a second choice. Also, it was so important to me that not only was he right for the movie, but I don’t want to hurt my child. His life is more valuable to me than the film.”
The older Kristófer is played by veteran actor and musician Egill Olaffson, who brought his own set of challenges to the role, having been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. ”I decided to give an extra week, so I can slow down his shooting a bit, and I think it was wonderful because every movement is difficult for him, and I wanted that to be like every moment for this guy.”
The complexities of performance
One particular challenge was that Pálmi is left-handed while Egill is right-handed. Egill had to learn to perform tasks left-handedly to maintain continuity. “In the Japanese restaurant scene, Egill is speaking three languages in the scene. With all the difficulties of cognition with the Parkinson’s and then for him not only he had to be eating in the same way, with chopsticks, and with his left hand, and with the accent. That is the worst thing. I put people on the top of Everest and freezing their noses off, but that’s probably the worst thing I’ve ever made an actor do.”
A reflective closure
“Touch” is a film about seeking closure and peace of mind. It’s a story that resonates deeply with anyone who has experienced loss or the end of a significant relationship. Kormákur’s personal reflections and the collaborative effort with Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson have resulted in a film that is both intimate and universal. As viewers, we are invited to join Kristófer on his journey, reflecting on our own lives and the relationships that shape us.
Watch the trailer for ”Touch”
“Touch” is more than just a film; it’s a meditation on life, love, and the human condition. It leaves us pondering our own paths and the closures we seek, making it a truly unforgettable cinematic experience.
