30/45
In Mumbai, nurse Prabha’s routine is disrupted when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Her young roommate, Anu, tries in vain to find a place in the city where she can bond 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 her own set of problems and, one might say, solutions. Desire, fear, regret and unwavering patience are the emotions that constantly alternate as the story quietly unfolds. 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 to provide a stage for conversations where people have room to be unusually honest and open with each other, even when they’re lying or posing. The acting is equally excellent and fits the script – there are no false notes, although there are some tantalising unfinished endings. The cinematography and editing are also quite good at creating an atmosphere that is reflective and somewhat detached, complementing the quiet intensity of the characters’ interactions. The detachment is heightened in a few moments where the film seems to incorporate elements of a documentary, or certainly gives the impression of one. I wasn’t always thrilled with the music and the way it was used, but that’s a minor gripe that many may not share. I take issue with another reviewer’s claim that this film was intended as “awards bait”. In my opinion, there’s too much heart and sincerity in this film to be categorized as cynical or manipulative – certainly no more than in any other film that seeks to tell an important story in a compelling and beautiful way. And this film takes a lot of risks that I can’t imagine will be well received in an increasingly sectarian and puritanical India. I highly recommend “All We Imagine as Light.”