We first see an old man in Iceland, Kristofer, recently widowed thinking back to when he was a young man living in London, England. We go back to those days when he had just quit university and was at a crossroads. On impulse he approached a Japanese restaurant to apply for a job admitting he had no experience. Somehow he struck a chord with the owner, Takahashi with a critical link being fishing, that both had done for a living in far away places..
He starts off as a lowly dishwasher, but gets involved with the family even starting to learn Japanese. He also expands what he does. Takahashi has a daughter, Miko. Initially she has a boyfriend, but when brought to her father, he breaks up the relationship witnessed by Kristofer. A new romance seems inevitable. For a short while their romance is intimate and sweet, but with no warning Kristofer learns they have left overnight and gone back home to Japan.
He accepts the reality, ends up back in Iceland as a trained chef opening his own restaurant and gets married. Years pass by and he is told by a doctor that he is on the road to dementia. His one regret is the broken romance he had with Miko. The story shifts back and forth from his efforts to find her and memories of their relationship. The explanation awaits near the end and only a very wild guess would come close.
The cast and crew is international and help make the story engaging. Here are only a few.
Baltasur Kormakur was the director, writer and producer. Born with a Spanish father and Icelandic mother he speaks English, Spanish, Icelandic and Danish. In the theatre he has acted, directed and produced. He thought rating groups like IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes should be split between male and female responses. as there is often a significant difference. He has 27 producing credits and 11 for writing including "The Deep" (2012), "2 Guns"(2013) and "Adrift" (2018).
Mark Goodridge was another producer. He has 27 producing credits and 17 for additional crew including "Hunt for the Wilderpeople" (2016), "The Florida Project" (2017) and "Left Handed Girl" (2025). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/12/two-unrelated-films-that-deserve-more.html
Hogni Egilson was the composer. Spent time with indie and electronic rock bands achieving international status. He has 15 composing credits, 3 for the music department and 1 for soundtrack.
Bergsteinn Bjorgulfsson was the cinematographer. He has 65 cinematography credits, 11 for the camera and electrical department and 10 for producing including "The Deep" (2012).
Sigurdur Eyporsso was the editor. He has 26 editor credits, 9 for the editorial department and 5 for visual effects including "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" (2011) and "2 Guns" (2013).
Selma Bjorndottir was a casting director. She had dubbed foreign films into Icelandic. She has 5 casting credits and 9 for acting.
Yoko Narahashi was a casting director and also played the older Miko. Her father was a Japanese diplomat and she grew up partly in Ottawa and Montreal. She had also been a theatre director. Yoko has 15 casting credits, 20 for the casting department and 6 for acting including "Memories of a Geisha" (2005) and "Babel" (2006)).
Egill Olafsson played the elder Kristofer. He has 34 acting credits, 3 for composing and 1 for writing.
Palmi Kormakur played the younger Kristofer. He has 3 credits for the production department and 6 for acting including "The Deep" (2012) and "Adrift" (2018).
Koki played the younger Miko. She has been a model, song writer and once won a junior flute contest. She has done commercials and is fluent in English. Koki has 8 acting credits.
Mashiro Motaki played Takahashi, father to Miko. He has 60 acting credits including the lead for Oscar winner "Departures" (2009).
Ruth Sheen played Mrs. Ellis. She has 85 acting credits, mostly in England including "Another Year" (2010), "Mr. Turner" (2014) and "The After" (2023).
Eugene Nomura played Akira (you will have to wait for his significance). He has 59 acting credits and 6 for producing including "The Emperor" (2014).
Available on Netflix, most of the dialogue in "Touch" is in English with subtitles provided for Icelandic and Japanese dialogue. English is the common language between Iceland and Japan. It is a sad, but beautiful love story.
As is my habit, films I have seen are bolded at first mention. Many are worth your time, but that is for your judgment.
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