Baltasar Kormákur's talent proves that it is possible to change the approach, without compromising the level of quality

A different film that achieves unimaginable depth

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Although his filmography leans notoriously towards adrenaline and action, Baltasar Kormákur knows no limits when it comes to making films. In this way, although cinephiles classify him as the ideal director to develop high-octane projects, no one can doubt that versatility has been part of his entire career. Before his debut in Hollywood, the filmmaker filled his baggage with productions that address different themes and explore multiple film genres.

However, he has gradually built up a solid reputation as an action film director, so Touch marked a radical change of pacea romantic drama that no one should miss.

What is Touch about?

A love story full of twists, drama and romance

Masterfully directed by Baltasar Kormákur, Touch is the adaptation of the novel of the same name by Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson published in 2022. It should be noted that both visionaries worked together on the creation of the script. The story revolves around Kristófer, an elderly Icelander who, after being widowed, feels that he is in the twilight of his life.

Motivated by loneliness and some health problems, he undertakes The adventure of finding a love from 50 years ago. In this way, the plot thread is woven between current events and flashbacks that reveal how Kristófer and Miko met and fell in love.

Why is Touch so special?

Touch immerses the viewer in an emotional journey against the clockIn an immersive and gratifying way, we are captivated by an extremely moving love story, capable of penetrating to the deepest fiber.

Moving away from his bombastic filmography, the filmmaker opts for a calm plot. According to critics, the most interesting thing is the way Kormákur adapted to the romantic drama genre and provides a production that breaks the mold, but in the best possible way.

Like Babette's Feast (1987), Big Night (1996) and Slow Fire (2023), it is perfect for lovers of low-key food movieswhere food plays a special role. In one of the flashbacks, the story reveals that the lovers met when Kristófer left university and got a job at Miko's father's Japanese restaurant.

Likewise, time jumps show Kristófer's journey as he develops the skills necessary to prepare Japanese cuisine, while the relationship between the young people intensifies.

More than a romantic comedy

Touch manages to break away from the rest of the romantic films we are used to.

We know many romantic dramas from Netflix, for example, but unlike them, Touch proposes a real race against time. Kristófer's age and his health conditions require immediacy. In this sense, there are no classic elements of the genre*, the story lacks major misunderstandings, extravagant adventures, deceptions or abrupt breakups that end up finding a solution minutes before the credits appear.

Thanks to that, Kormákur raises the level of realism of the plotmaking the love between feel heartbreakingly compelling, something not common in other romantic comedies.

Baltasar Kormákur never says no to any challenge

In 2012, Kormákur made his big entrance thanks to Contrabanda crime thriller starring Mark Wahlberg, with whom she worked again in 2013, this time alongside Denzel Washington in the filming of 2 Guns.

Despite the results obtained by these action films, the director goes a little out of the mold when brought Everest (2015) and Adrift (2018) to the screen, two stories full of dramawhich revolve around survival.

Four years later, he surprises his followers with The Beast (2022), thriller that combines terror and suspenseset in a South African animal reserve, where Dr. Nate Samuels and his daughter are chased by a lion on the loose. But that's not all, that same year, he was in charge of directing a couple of television programs.

In short, there is no doubt, Baltasar Kormákur is one of the most complete and versatile directors. It doesn't matter if it is an action movie, a survival story or replaces bullets with pure romance, the quality of their productions always prevails.

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