Film review: ‘ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT’ by Nick Gardener from ‘Built For Speed’

The western perception of Indian cinema usually involves extravagant Bollywood musicals but there’s a long and rich film history in India that takes in all genres.  This includes social realist dramas such as the films of famed director Satyajit Ray.  The latest example of the Indian social realist film, this time from writer/ director Payal Kapadia, is All We Imagine as Light which was nominated for director and foreign language film Golden Globes.

The film follows the life of a Mumbai nurse Prahba (Kani Kusruti) whose diligence and sense of responsibility has seen her become a parental figure to her peers.  This has also meant she’s had to relinquish a social life and the free-spirited antics of her friends and colleagues. Her ordered life becomes more difficult, though, when her estranged husband, who now lives in Germany, appears to reach out to her, a colleague (Chhaya Kadam ) is threatened with eviction by developers and her younger, more extroverted roommate Anu (Divya Prabha) begins dating a young Muslim man.

All We imagine as Light is not about action and driving narrative.  It’s more concerned with humanist ideas and the battle to maintain basic values in a corrupting world.  Even more than this, however, it seems Kapadia is interested in cultural immersion and depicting a community and an environment. She convincingly captures the minutiae of everyday life in the vibrant city of Mumbai and in particular the chaotic energy of the crowded streets, markets and festivals.  She reveals a city in which traditional values compete with rampant capitalism and where poorer neighbourhoods sit at the feet of gleaming office towers.

At times, the film almost has a documentary feel with scenes that look as if the actors are just walking through a real setting rather than a heavily set up shot.  This is not surprising as among Kapadia’s previous films is the lauded documentary about student life in India, A Night of Knowing Nothing.

Each character’s story here makes for a touching human drama and at the film’s centre is a wonderful performance from Kani Kusruti who has the gift of speaking volumes with a just facial expression.  She captures a palpable sense of anxiety and uncertainty as well as a yearning for something more from life.  Divya Prabha provides a charming contrast as the more freewheeling and romantic Anu.

Some may find this film a little static and lacking in drama but others will delight in its wonderful cinematography, streetwise energy and identifiable empathetic characters.

Nick’s rating: ****

Genre: Drama.

Classification: M.

Director(s): Payal Kapadia.

Release date: 25th Dec 2024.

Running time: 118 mins.

Reviewer: Nick Gardener can be heard on “Built For Speed” every Friday night from 8-10pm on 88.3 Southern FM.

 

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