Title – All We Imagine as Light (2024)
Director – Payal Kapadia (A Night of Knowing Nothing)
Cast – Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam, Hridhu Haroon
Plot – Explores the daily comings and goings of three Mumbai women as they navigate the trials of the big city and personal experiences that will shape the rest of their lives.
“You might think you know someone, but they can also become strangers”
Review by Eddie on 26/05/2025
One of 2024’s most esteemed releases, currently at the time of writing harbouring an impressive 100% fresh critical rating on review aggerate website Rotten Tomatoes, director Payal Kapadia’s lauded drama All We Imagine as Light was curiously shut out of the Oscar equation despite the fact it was lavished with praise from across the globe.
More of a slice of life tale exploring the lives of three female residents of the hustling and bustling Indian city of Mumbai than a film set on delivering a typical point a to point b, Kapadia follows Kani Kusruti’s Prabha, Divya Prabha’s Anu and Chhaya Kadam’s Parvaty as the trio navigate lost and found loves, working commitments, their places in the world and importantly their identity in the unforgiving yet vibrant surrounds of Mumbai.
Beautifully captured by Kapadia and her films cinematographer Ranabir Das, this is one of the best cinematic depictions of Mumbai since Slumdog Millionaire wowed the world and Light brings a documentary like approach to its capturing of one of the modern era’s most alive and unique cities that gives it an authenticity and heart that is not often found in more manicured and tailor-made features.
This aspect of Light is both a blessing and a curse to the film with the cities and landscapes of Kapadia’s tale arguably more engaging and interesting than the films main characters who remain curiously at arms length throughout the films two hour running time, their not unlikeable characters by any means but there’s a growing frustration throughout the film that we can’t connect to them and their various journeys to a deeper and more meaningful level.
It makes one wonder whether the critical adoration adorned on the film stems from critics and award voters falling in love with Light’s aesthetics and artistry rather than its storytelling as I for one found it hard to engage with Light’s narrative other than on a mere curiosity level and it appears when you dive further into the online spectrum, there’s a clear divide between the adornment of professional praise to that of more general punters who clearly didn’t connect with this critical darling to the same degree.
You can tell Light comes from a heartfelt place and its judgement on production and artistry angles should duly remain high, as would the judgements of the three lead performers committed turns but there’s some oddly amiss and cold about Light’s weaving of a rather lacking story that lacks the bite and payoff needed to make a film such as this truly break out.
Final Say –
A pretty film that will mean more to some than most, All We Imagine as Light offers up a strangely cold human interest tale that is at times aimless and wandering, saved by its keen eye and a setting that couldn’t be manufactured by the wildest of imaginations.
3 skyscrapers out of 5
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys) 
I saw this film when it came to my city in late 2024, and I really liked it not just because of its visual appeal but also because I love movies where people are just living their lives with tasks to complete, and obstacles are usually surmountable (even if the problem really doesn’t go away). It’s being Criterioned in July.
I do agree with you on the point that “there’s a growing frustration throughout the film that we can’t connect to them and their various journeys to a deeper and more meaningful level.” — Why should the viewer care, really care about what happens other than “welp, I’m watching you now, soooo, I hope things work out.”
It’s interesting that despite all the critical acclaim it hasn’t really seemed to leap out into a wider audience yet. I think it’s even on Disney+ here in Aus making it very accessible.
E
Hey I was wondering what are the sources of your movies, beyond local cinema and occasional eye patch drop 😉? Which streamers are you subscribed to?
Hey mate. I find it hard to keep on all the streaming services, I usually chop and change a little a month here a month there etc rather than 12 month subs.
Usually I have full access to Disney+ and a lot of V.O.D rentals!
Luckily our local cinema is doing a good job of getting most content for our viewing pleasure!
E
I think maybe this film resonates more deeply on a personal level with women. It’s not overstated, but many of the tensions in the characters’ lives arise from the fact that, while they ostensibly live modern independent lives, they are still expected to fulfil traditional criteria. This is most obvious with the younger nurse whose parents send her details of ‘suitable’ husbands, while she is clandestinely going out with a young man that they would definitely disapprove of.
Very good point. I can certainly see how this would really resonate and translate well for certain audiences and backgrounds. It was a well made film, just not one I found a strong connection with character or story wise.
E
I haven’t seen it but I find these types of movies intriguing and occasionally frustrating when it’s clearly a well made piece of cinema but I can’t connect to it. Sometimes it takes a second viewing in a different mood or different time in my life which could be after some particular experience or meeting a person that reminds me of a character and that in turn colors my viewing experience.
Great point!
E