‘Touch’ a moving, heart-felt romantic story

The Dietrich Theater’s Annual Fall Film Festival starts up on September 20th with two opening films - ‘Touch’ and ‘The Fabulous Four’ (which I will try to check out during the festival).

‘Touch’ is a romantic, dramatic story that spans several decades and continents; the film follows one widower’s emotional journey to find his first true love who disappeared fifty years ago, before his time runs out.

The opening night film, ‘Touch,’ is an engaging, romantic story that should not be missed during the Fall Film Festival. This film delivers quite a few heartfelt, moving moments that will make you stay engaged to the story and even feels like a little mystery at times.

During the course of the film, we follow the main character, Kristofer, who has just become a widower and just received some distressing health news. Throughout his travels, we get to see flashbacks of his younger years and we are then introduced to his lost first love (Miko).

In those flashbacks, we also see how younger Kristofer put his education on pause and how he ends up meeting Miko while getting a job at a local Japanese restaurant. The film does a great job balancing out the flashbacks and Kristofer’s current journey of finding her.

Kristofer’s journey is extremely moving, and with the story being set during the very early stages of the pandemic travel restrictions, you sometimes begin to wonder if he will ever find Miko. Their story together can be extremely heart-warming and you feel how much he loved her when Miko and her family suddenly disappear (which is actually a little twist in the story).

If you’re looking for a moving, romantic story to check out during the Fall Film Festival, then make sure to add ‘Touch’ on your watch list. There are several moments in this film that can get you a little emotional and might make you also wonder “what might have been.”

Some of the cast includes: Egill Olafsson as Kristofer; Koki as Young Miko; Palmi Kormakur as Young Kristofer; Maschino Motoki as Takahashi-san; Yoko Narchashi as Miklo; Meg Kubota as Hitomi; Masatochi Nakomura as Kutaragi-san and Ruth Sheen as Mrs. Ellis.

‘Touch’ is written by Olafur Olafsson (also wrote the novel) and co-written/directed by Baltasar Kormakur (Beast; 2 Guns; Everest; Adrift).

The film is based on Olafsson’s 2022 novel of the same name. Principal photography began in October 2022 and was filmed in London, Iceland and Japan. ‘Touch’ was released in Iceland in May 2024 and had a limited theatrical release in the US and Canada in July.

‘Touch’ is rated R for some sexuality and has a running time of 121 minutes.

The show dates and times for ‘Touch’ are as follows: Friday, Sept. 20 (opening night); Tues. Sept. 24 at 4:30; Friday, Sept. 27 at 2:30; Sunday, Sept. 29 at 12:00; Wed. Oct. 2 at 12:00; Friday Oct. 4 at 12:00; Monday Oct. 7 at 2:30’ Tuesday Oct. 8 at 4:30 and Thurs. Oct. 10 at 2:30.