All We Imagine as Light

11/30/2024

"Prabha" (Kani Kusruti) is a nurse in a busy Mumbai hospital who shares her tiny apartment with the usually skint "Anu" (Divya Prabha). We quickly learn that she is married but her husband left her some while ago to work in Germany and she hasn't heard from him in over a year. "Anu", on the other hand, has a different emotional problem. She has fallen in love with a young Muslim man "Shiaz" (Hridhu Haroon) but knows full well that neither her colleagues nor her family will ever permit such a relationship, let alone any marriage - so perhaps elopement is their only solution. Meantime, whilst these women deal with their own domestic issues, their friend "Parvaty" (Chhaya Kadam) is facing eviction from her home as the developers want to move in. Their threats have given way to more practical

12/1/2024

_All We Imagine as Light_, a visually delicate exploration of intimacy, displacement, and the quiet search for connection, has earned the prestigious Grand Prix at Cannes. Set in Mumbai, the film follows the lives of three women working in a hospital as they navigate the complexities of their personal lives and fleeting moments of closeness. The film's serene atmosphere, like a gentle breeze, and ethereal cinematography create a meditative mood that resonates deeply with viewers seeking emotional introspection. Despite its accolades, _All We Imagine as Light_ feels more like a familiar echo than a groundbreaking work. It thrives on its quiet pacing and understated performances but leans heavily on well-trodden narratives. The story explores a short-lived, transformative period in people

12/16/2024

Invariably, there’s always one film release each year that’s vastly and inexplicably overrated, both in terms of critical acclaim and awards season recognition, and this disappointing, tediously paced slog tops my list of candidates for 2024. Writer-director Payal Kapadia’s examination of contemporary working class conditions in Mumbai follows the stories of three women who struggle with getting by financially, vocationally and personally, all of them having relocated to the city from their rural roots in search of illusory, overpromised opportunities. The picture has been widely praised for its gentle treatment of its subject, along with its sensitive and nuanced handling of its principals’ lives. To me, however, this is a politely euphemistic way of saying it’s boring (I can’t recall how