26/12
In Mumbai, nurse Prabha’s daily routine is disrupted when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Her new roommate Anu struggles in vain to find a place in the city to reconnect with her boyfriend. Director Payal Kapadia and the cast of All We Imagine As Light come together to share the most touching reactions from Cannes and more! The first Indian film to win the prestigious Grand Prix at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. This film dramatizes the many challenges faced by single women living in Bombay and highlights their resilience. All the women here work as nurses in the same hospital, but that’s where the similarities end, as each has their own set of problems and, one might say, solutions. Desire, fear, regret and unwavering patience are emotions that constantly replace each other as the story quietly unravels. Perhaps the biggest asset is the screenplay, which offers unusually rich and thoughtful dialogue between the characters. The amount of action in the plot seems sufficient to create space for conversation, where people have the opportunity to be unusually honest and open with each other, even if they’re lying or posing. The acting is equally excellent and fits the script – there are no false notes, although there are some tantalizing unfinished endings. The cinematography and editing also do a pretty good job of creating a reflective and slightly detached atmosphere that complements the quiet intensity of the characters’ interactions. The detachment is reinforced in several moments where the film seems to incorporate elements of a documentary, or certainly feels like one. I wasn’t always thrilled with the music and how it was used, but that’s a small quibble that many may not share. I take issue with another reviewer’s claim that this film was intended as «awards bait». I think there’s too much heart and honesty in this film to be classified as cynical or manipulative – certainly no more than any other film that tries to tell an important story in a compelling and beautiful way. And this film takes big risks that I can’t imagine will be well received in an India that is becoming increasingly sectarian and puritanical. I highly recommend «All We Imagine as Light.»