All We Imagine as Light

2024 [ML]

Drama / Romance

26
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 71% · 158 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 71% · 250 ratings
IMDb Rating 7.1/10 10 13182 13.2K

nurse roommates meditative

Plot summary

In Mumbai, Nurse Prabha's routine is troubled when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Her younger roommate, Anu, tries in vain to find a spot in the city to be intimate with her boyfriend. A trip to a beach town allows them to find a space for their desires to manifest.

Director

Payal Kapadia Photo
Payal Kapadia

Top cast

Kani Kusruti Photo
Kani Kusruti as Prabha
Divya Prabha Photo
Divya Prabha as Anu
Hridhu Haroon Photo
Hridhu Haroon as Shiaz
Chhaya Kadam Photo
Chhaya Kadam as Parvaty
720p.BluRay 720p.WEB 1080p.BluRay 1080p.WEB 1080p.WEB
1.05 GB
1200*720
Ml 2.0
NR
Subtitles us   in   gr   pt   ro  
24 fps
1 hr 57 min
Seeds 7
1.06 GB
1280*768
Ml 2.0
NR
Subtitles us   in   gr   pt   ro  
24 fps
1 hr 58 min
Seeds 20
2.17 GB
1800*1080
Ml 5.1
NR
Subtitles us   in   gr   pt   ro  
24 fps
1 hr 57 min
Seeds 21
1.98 GB
1800*1080
Ml 2.0
NR
Subtitles us   in   gr   pt   ro  
24 fps
1 hr 58 min
Seeds 47
1.77 GB
1800*1080
Ml 2.0
NR
Subtitles us   in   gr   pt   ro  
24 fps
1 hr 58 min
Seeds 25

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by shailendragautam349 6 / 10

Did not strike a chord with me

I really wanted to like this film after hearing so many positive reviews however it falls short of a masterpiece for me and is just another forgettable film that does nothing spectacular.The film is about a Malayali nurse working in Bombay who lives away from her husband, she shares a room with another nurse who has a lover and they both find it hard to find a place. Third story is about an old woman being driven out of the house she lives in.To my dismay the film gives in too much to the cliched tropes to the point of being downright predictable and boring. The protagonist is longing for a connection albeit she guards herself against it, at many points she is the super ego of the film shutting down the despairing cries of others with dictums yet by the end trying to imagine light in the darkness of her loneliness.In that sense, her roommate is her antithesis, she has no inhibitions, she is in love with a Muslim boy and they are looking for a place to make love.Recognize the beaten path of a storyline of a subdued woman, she is shown to be too righteous, almost like a nun, as a matter of fact the background score of the film is taken from a piece composed by an Ethiopian nun. In many ways it reminded me of Ishiguro's "Remains of the day". The story of the roommate and her lover really didn't add that much to the story other than working as a filler for sex, I'm personally not a big fan of misplaced nudity and sex in films, it's exploitative in nature and does little to carry the story.The story about the old lady started off as a social commentary on class, and the hidden rules of society, at one point she questions whether she should confront the reality of her existence or get indulged in the illusion like everyone else. She ends up leaving the city for her hometown. This story goes nowhere and thus it felt underwhelming.All in all, the film doesn't say anything new, it does not punch you in the gut like Salaam Bombay, it doesn't make you somber like The Lunchbox however one cannot help but admire Payal Kapadia's craft, I have seen numerous films on Bombay but nothing captures it like the film does but it felt like - specially in the second half of the film - that she was trying very hard to make each story reconcile and come to closure.By no means I'm calling this a bad film, it's crafty and well made but fails to say anything that has not been said before through film.
Reviewed by SoumikBanerjee1996 6 / 10

Expected something more!

I have a profound appreciation for directors who possess this inherent ability to extract moments of intrigue from the monotonous aspects of life.These filmmakers can illuminate even the most repetitive daily activities in a fresh manner, all while weaving narratives that delve deeper into complexities of human psychology and interpersonal relationships.Payal Kapadia is one amongst them.Her exploration of a wife's tiring loneliness, a young woman's sexual desires, and an elderly woman's struggle to leave her beloved home presents three women in circumstances that test their morals, challenge their upbringing, and, most importantly, confront their flawed perspectives.While I admire Kapadia's narrative prowess, it is evident that the themes she addresses lack sufficient depth for development. The notable absence of conflict restricts the potential for these stories to evolve into something more substantive.Not suggesting they didn't bear any fruits, but looking at the subjects being discussed, I had hoped for better.
Reviewed by loadham 7 / 10

Solitude in a city full of noise

Quiet and fragile, 'All We Imagine as Light' delicately unfolds life in Mumbai, capturing the solitude of its protagonists in a city full of movement. The film beautifully juxtaposes the stillness of personal struggles against the relentless pace of urban life, creating an intimate yet universal portrait of longing and resilience. However, while the storytelling is subtle and poetic, it lacks a true climax, leaving certain narrative threads unresolved. Despite this, the film's delicate atmosphere, compelling performances, and evocative cinematography make it a poignant, meditative experience that lingers beyond the screen.
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