29/14
Nurse Prabha’s daily routine in Mumbai is disrupted when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Her younger roommate Anu tries unsuccessfully to find a place in the city where she can spend time with her boyfriend. Director Payal Kapadia and the cast of All We Imagine As Light share their most moving experiences from Cannes and beyond. !. First Indian film, 2024. Winner of the prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. The film explores the many challenges faced by single women living 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 has their own problems and, one might say, solutions. Desire, fear, regret and patience are the emotions that constantly emerge as the story slowly unravels. Perhaps its greatest asset is the script, which offers incredibly rich and thoughtful dialogue between characters. The plot seems to provide ample groundwork for conversations in which people have the space to be incredibly honest and forthright with each other, even when they’re lying or posting. The acting is equally excellent and matches the writing—there’s not a single false note, though there are some tantalizing lapses. The cinematography and editing also do a pretty good job of conveying a sense of reflection and distance, complementing the quiet intensity of the character interactions. This divide is even more apparent in moments where the film feels like it has documentary elements, or does feel like it. I didn’t always like the music and its execution, but that’s a detail that many people might not understand. Share.I dispute another reviewer’s claim that this film was intended as “award bait.” There is, in my opinion, too much sincerity and honesty in this film to be considered cynical or manipulative – certainly no more than in any other film that sets out to tell an important story in a compelling and beautiful way. And this film takes many risks that I don’t think would work in an increasingly sectarian and puritanical India. I highly recommend the book All We Imagine as Light.