STARNO provided specialized Digital Matte Painting and historical reconstruction services for Derek Cianfrance’s period drama THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS. Working with Mavericks VFX, our mission was to ensure the visual authenticity of the fictional coastal town of Partageuse, Australia, across several decades.
The primary task involved a complex environment shot featuring a store situated on a hill overlooking an active industrial district below. As a Freelance Matte Painter, Frédéric St-Arnaud performed extensive digital cleanup and period-accurate reconstruction. This included removing modern elements and building a detailed industrial landscape that reflects the film's timeline, which spans from the post-WWI era (1918-1923) to an emotional epilogue in 1950.
The technical challenge lay in creating a seamless transition between the foreground live-action shop and the digitally enhanced industrial background. Every chimney, warehouse, and street detail was crafted to maintain the film's poetic and grounded aesthetic, ensuring the environment accurately reflects the passage of time and the town's evolution.
Based on the novel by M.L. Stedman, THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS tells the story of Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fassbender), a lighthouse keeper, and his wife Isabel (Alicia Vikander), who live on a remote island off the coast of Western Australia. When a rowboat washes ashore carrying a dead man and a crying baby, they make a choice that will have devastating consequences.
Starring Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Rachel Weisz, the film is a heart-wrenching exploration of love, loss, and the moral complexities of motherhood. The beautifully desolate landscapes and the evolving town of Partageuse serve as a powerful backdrop to this epic intimate drama.
STARNO TEAM:Frédéric St-Arnaud (Freelance Matte Painter)
Mavericks VFX
FEATURE FILM – 2016
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