The film “All We Imagine As Light” has brought Payal Kapadia into the limelight. Many believed that instead of sending Lapata Ladies, this film should have been India’s official entry to the Oscars. Read this article to know more details.
This film has been showcased at more than three dozen international film festivals. The 2024 film introduces us to director Payal Kapadia. The film is in Malayalam, with dialogues in Marathi, Hindi, English, and initially Gujarati as well.
Some creators recommended this film as India’s official entry to the Oscars, but that didn’t happen. India ended up sending Lapata Ladies instead. Many might wonder why we didn’t send this acclaimed film to the Oscars. The film is titled All We Imagine As Light. Now, let’s dive into what the film is about. Oh, and yes, the film is available on Disney+ Hotstar.
In a Mumbai hospital, Prabha (Kani Kasruti), Anu (Divya Prabha), and Parvati (Chhaya Kadam) are nurses. Each of them has her own life and struggles. Prabha and Anu live together. Prabha’s husband had come from Germany just to marry her, and after he returned, their communication stopped. Anu is in love with a Muslim young man, Shiyaz (Hridu Haroon), and gossip about their relationship is circulating at the hospital. Parvati, who lives in a chawl, is being harassed by a builder who refuses to give her a house.
Amidst the hospital work, Anu’s romance, and Prabha’s loneliness, Parvati decides that without a home in Mumbai, it might be better to migrate back to her hometown, Ratnagiri, in old age. Prabha and Anu accompany her to her hometown. Shiyaz follows them there as well. In a pit, Prabha witnesses a physical relationship developing between Anu and Shiyaz. Additionally, Prabha saves a man (Anand Sami) stranded at sea who has lost his memory. She convinces him that he is her husband from Germany. And in the end…
All We Imagine As Light is a collaborative creation from five countries. There are 17 names credited as producers, with two as primary producers and seven as co-producers. The tone of the film on screen is dark. In terms of a native audience, we can say the film presents a collage or collection of various scenes from Mumbai. What stands out is its sound design, created by Oliver Voisin. His excellent work is worth noting. Ranabir Das, the cinematographer, created an impact that might appeal to foreigners, but it may not have the same effect on us.
Apart from the sound, the two other things that keep the audience engaged are the actors’ performances and the film’s realistic treatment. Kani, Divya, and Chhaya are the heart of the film. Among the three, which one to praise more? Their performances are so authentic that they make the film feel more like a documentary than a feature film.
Despite this, the film did not receive an official Oscar nomination from India (or even from France). While some considered it Oscar-worthy, the jury that decides the Indian entry to the Oscars is headed by filmmaker Jaanu Baruah. His comment, “The jury felt the film was technically weak,” is completely justified. Watching All We Imagine As Light, one might understand why. Many might even argue that the film doesn’t fully represent India. This is because its interpretation can vary from person to person.
Additionally, the film’s artistic approach and poetic undertones might be beautiful to intellectuals, but are they impressive enough to warrant a strong reaction? In its attempts, the film does feature some questionable scenes. For example, the electric rice cooker marked ‘Made in Germany’ at Prabha’s house, or Parvati throwing stones at the builder’s board while dealing with him at her home, or the climax where Prabha convinces the unknown man to believe he is her husband. These moments can be labeled as artistic, but they are also something we see in commercial films too.
Some scenes shot in Ratnagiri stand out due to the location’s novelty. For example, the scene where Anu and Shiyaz fall in love and develop a physical relationship, the location adds charm.
Many have expressed hope that Payal will receive an Oscar nomination for All We Imagine As Light. Meanwhile, Lapata Ladies is already out of the race. Hopefully, Payal will get the recognition she deserves because, without it, the country might miss out on nominations or awards. As for evaluating the film as an audience member, it can be said that All We Imagine As Light is a fairly ordinary film for our eyes and emotions. That’s it.
Who is Payal Kapadia?
Born in 1986, Payal Kapadia is a Mumbai native. Daughter of a Gujarati father, she studied filmmaking at a film institute. Before All We Imagine, she made documentaries and short films. Her short film Afternoon Clouds was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017. Similarly, her film Night of Nothing won the Golden Eye Award at Cannes in 2021. Her latest film has received recognition and awards at several film festivals.
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