All We Imagine as Light (2024)

Mar 21

It is often said that life is made special by the people you spend it with. Purpose, trust, and mutual relationships add fulfillment and passion to a daily routine, whether it’s helping to resolve a problem or dancing with close friends. “All We Imagine as Light,” directed by Payal Kapadia, examines close-knit bonds and the value of togetherness amid a bustling and unpredictable world.

Ambient in style and deliberately slow in pace, “All We Imagine as Light" allows for multiple, intimate viewpoints to capture a glance at contemporary, working-class India and the value of sisterhood. 3 people are examined; Nurse Prabha, Anu, and Parvaty, all women who work at a general hospital in Mumbai and face various problems from relationships to eviction. Benefitting from a slice-of-life structure, it accurately portrays the uncertain drumbeat of life and highlights the unsteadiness of these characters’ journeys, triumphs, and struggles.

Kapadia’s script works best in showing the densely packed city streets of Mumbai and how it creates isolation and individuality within the context of unrelentless hope even in grueling despair. Most of the film takes place in one-room settings that give room for vulnerability in dialogue and behavior, making small-scale conflict seem more personable and realistic. When the setting moves to a beach town in the 3rd act, it becomes more laidback, contributing to a harder-to-follow narrative but a very satisfying payoff nevertheless.

In terms of the casting, Kani Kusruti incorporates solemness into Prabha, never entirely satisfied with the direction of her life and wanting more from it, like someone looking for something that's not quite there. Divya Prabha gives Anu a distinct touch of youthful rebellion, managing to be eager but also questioning her prospects. Chhaya Kadam’s fiercely hearted performance brings outgoingness to Parvaty.

Music group Topshe conducts the electronic score for this, packing a synthetic yet nostalgic feel into their compositions. The final theme, “Imagined Light,” is reflective lo-fi at its best, invoking the bright reflectiveness of never-stopping life.

Overall, “All We Imagine as Light” is a stunningly intimate and personal film that makes everyday problems cinematic in utmost detail, making itself a notable entry into the modern Indian independent film scene.