Cannes 2024 (Competition): All We Imagine As Light (by Payal Kapadia) | Review
Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light brings a vivid portrayal of Mumbai’s restless spirit and the intertwining lives of three resilient nurses, making it a strong contender at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.
High expectations are running among the Indian contingent at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, as Payal Kapadia’s film All We Imagine as Light is a strong contender for the prestigious top prize in the competition section. The last Indian film to compete at Cannes was Shaji N. Karun’s Malayalam-language drama Swaham in 1994. Previously, the following titles were honored to be presented in competition on the Croisette: Chetan Anand’s Neecha Nagar (1946), V. Shantaram’s Amar Bhoopali (1952), Raj Kapoor’s Awaara (1953), Satyajit Ray’s Parash Pathar (1958), and M.S. Sathyu’s Garm Hava (1974). Neecha Nagar is the only Indian film to have been awarded the Palme d’Or.
All We Imagine as Light, which runs for 114 minutes, could be considered an ode to the city of Mumbai, exploring deepening friendships, landlocked problems, and the search for spaces to celebrate love.
This film tells the story of two nurses living in Mumbai, grappling with the daily grind of work, solving problems, and living with or without love. Payal juxtaposes the nurses’ age differences: the main protagonist, a married and forlorn older nurse, against a young nurse dealing with newfound love and a desperation to fulfill her desires. Another character, an older widow nurse/attendant, grapples with being outcast from her living quarters. Their stories intertwine when they leave the city to help their colleague settle in a seaside town, where they finally manifest their inner dreams.
The film was shot in Mumbai over twenty-five days, followed by fifteen days in Ratnagiri, providing textured and layered imagery of both the city and the small beach town. The play with light and shadows offers insight into the emotions of the women in the film. The color palette and Payal’s documentary approach to her first fiction film make All We Imagine as Light a unique cinematic piece with an organic touch. After opening with a commentary on urban life in modern-day Mumbai, Payal introduces her main characters beautifully.
The way this film has been shot makes you want to get involved in the lives of these nurses as they falter and try to find their inner feelings. In terms of acting, Kani Kusruti as Prabha, Divya Prabha as Anu, and Chhaya Kadam as Parvaty deliver fantastic performances that make you reconsider your thoughts on marriage, love, and relationships.
Our reporters are on the ground in Cannes, France, to bring you exclusive content from the 77th Cannes Film Festival—explore our coverage here.
