All We Imagine as Light

Quiet and fragile, 'All We Imagine as Light' delicately unfolds life in Mumbai, capturing the solitude of its protagonists in a city full of movement. The film beautifully juxtaposes the stillness of personal struggles against the relentless pace of urban life, creating an intimate yet universal portrait of longing and resilience. However, while the storytelling is subtle and poetic, it lacks a true climax, leaving certain narrative threads unresolved. Despite this, the film's delicate atmosphere, compelling performances, and evocative cinematography make it a poignant, meditative experience that lingers beyond the screen.

Three women of different generations living in Mumbai struggle with life, love, the future, each with her own perspective, experiences, choices and fears. Love is hard in India.

It aims to be a moody, atmospheric movie for the most part and it succeeds I think, but I wish it had been better shot. There is so much opportunity here to do amazing cinematography and it just wasn't that. Thing WKW. This could have been that level of beauty. It had all the right sights and vibes.

I don't know if I am fully satisfied by what I saw because I kept imagining how much better it could have looked at times. Maybe that is unfair to the writer/director. Maybe associating it with other iconic mood pieces is not fair either. For the topics and the dialogues and the actresses it deserves its place in modern Indian cinema I think. I haven't seen many Indian movies, some of them where better in the looks department, others much worse in the story and character development department. So I think it's fair to place it with the better ones.

A little too long and unfocused at times. That's why I'm saying top notch cinematography would've gotten us to forgive its flaws.

Light delves into the complex struggles women face in the harsh realities of city life. The film captures the fears and challenges of young, unmarried women dealing with family pressures, a middle-aged woman feeling stuck in her life, and an elderly woman facing homelessness. These portrayals of adulthood's difficulties-loneliness, poor relationships, and uncertain futures-can feel overwhelming and unsettling.

However, the film also offers a glimmer of hope, especially in its final scene, where a sense of possibility shines through, accompanied by uplifting music. It reminds us that despite life's hardships, there is always room for growth, change, and hope for a better future. Light is a poignant reminder that while the struggles of life are real, we have the strength to rise above them and create our own path forward.

I have a profound appreciation for directors who possess this inherent ability to extract moments of intrigue from the monotonous aspects of life.

These filmmakers can illuminate even the most repetitive daily activities in a fresh manner, all while weaving narratives that delve deeper into complexities of human psychology and interpersonal relationships.

Payal Kapadia is one amongst them.

Her exploration of a wife's tiring loneliness, a young woman's sexual desires, and an elderly woman's struggle to leave her beloved home presents three women in circumstances that test their morals, challenge their upbringing, and, most importantly, confront their flawed perspectives.

While I admire Kapadia's narrative prowess, it is evident that the themes she addresses lack sufficient depth for development. The notable absence of conflict restricts the potential for these stories to evolve into something more substantive.

Not suggesting they didn't bear any fruits, but looking at the subjects being discussed, I had hoped for better.

This film was fine, but I'm struggling to understand what sets it apart. While it's artistic, the film lacks a compelling narrative. It seems to tick the right boxes-a woman of color from Europe directing-but beyond that, what makes it stand out? I'm baffled by the critical acclaim. The acting was solid, the score was minimal, and the direction was decent. It feels like the inclusion of nudity and explicit scenes is what ultimately sold the film. Is this really what filmmakers must resort to in order to cater to Western audiences? The pacing is incredibly slow, which likely appealed to the French audience and contributed to its selection at Cannes.

Cannes loves films like these!