30/37

In Mumbai, nurse Prabha’s daily life is thrown off track when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Her younger roommate Anu tries in vain to find a place in the city where she can be close to 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 beyond! First Indian film to win the prestigious Grand Prix at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, this film portrays the numerous challenges faced by single women in Mumbai and highlights their resilience. All the women featured here are nurses in the same hospital, but that’s where the similarities end, as each of them has their own problems and, one might say, solutions. Desire, fear, regret and unwavering patience are the emotions that constantly change throughout the story. Its greatest asset is probably the screenplay, which offers incredibly deep and thoughtful dialogues between the characters. The plot seems to be just enough to provide a framework for conversations where people are given the space to be incredibly honest and unrepentant with each other, even when lying or pretending. The acting is excellent throughout and lives up to the standard of the script. There are no false notes, although there are some tantalizing loose ends. The camerawork and editing also do a good job of creating a thoughtful and somewhat detached atmosphere that complements the quiet intensity of the characters’ interactions. This distance is reinforced at several points where the film seems to incorporate documentary elements, or at least creates such a feeling. I wasn’t always keen on the music and the way it was referenced, but that’s a minor criticism that many may not share. I disagree with another critic’s claim that this film was intended as “awards bait.” In my opinion, there is too much heart and sincerity in this film to be called cynical or manipulative – certainly no more so than any other film that tries to tell an important story in a compelling and beautiful way. And this film takes a lot of risks that I can’t imagine would go down well in an increasingly sectarian and puritanical India. I highly recommend All We Imagine as Light.