This title translates in Icelandic to “Snerting.” Snerting. That, to me, sounds like a vaguely taboo sexual act. “Whoa. You’re into snerting? OK. No judgment. You do you.”
Is that a fair comment on this film in any way, shape, or form? No. Not even close. But I couldn’t resist the word “Snerting,” can you?
Touch or “Snerting” -as one might know it in Reykjavík- is about an Icelander falling in love with Japan while in London, which makes no sense, but, hey romance. Or romance fail, I should say. It’s clear that Kristófer (Egill Ólafsson in 2020, Palmi Kormakur in 1960s – hey, that guy has the same name as the director; what a coincidence!) did not end up marrying a Japanese woman. Wait. Lemme back up. What I just said is clear in retrospect. What is clear at the outset is the old dude married an Icelandic woman. And then the film switches violently to the 1960s. It wasn’t clear to me until 30 minutes into this film that the old dude and the 1960s student were the same character. That could have been a little clearer … as it’s kind of important.
Once upon a time, Kristófer was an student at the London School of Economics, which is a pretty good school to drop out of, which he does. Wiki says the LW revolutionary in Kristófer did it for political reasons, but the dialogue suggests he wasn’t interested in being a student anymore.
So, you drop out of school in a foreign country; what’s your next move, genius? Kristófer 
decides, naturally, to become a busboy/dishwasher at a Japanese sushi place. And, of course, this is where dreams come true. :SMH:
I suppose there’s no natural one-way path to the center for eternal bliss, but Kristófer does ok, first settling in with his Japanese overlords and then setting his sites on the boss’ daughter, Miko (Kōki). Their relationship is tepid for a while … until it isn’t. Takahashi (Masahiro Motoki) is a post-atomic bomb refugee from Hiroshima, which has had a significant impact in the lives of he and his family … and twenty years removed from the events of 1945 in Japan will have a significant effect on Kristófer as well. Is that why old Kristófer is wandering around London during COVID?
Touch was a little slow for my snerting. And, as I say, more confusing than it needed to be. And why the latter story needed to be set against a backdrop of COVID is beyond my ken. The film is sweet, if a little dull. Can’t say it’s exactly my cup a sake, but it might strike a chord with people who have loved and lost … and I daresay that past a certain age, that statement will apply to just about everybody.
Kristófer wandered in from Iceland
And dropped out of school, quite unplanned
He met a fair maiden
While tables he be waitin’
But kid, you better draw your plans in the sand
Rated R, 121 Minutes
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Writer: Olaf Olafsson, Baltasar Kormákur
Genre: Romance fail
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Heartsick Icelanders?
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Economics professors
