Words will never do justice to describe All We Imagine as Light because this is a film to be felt. We all feel differently, and so I can't guarantee everyone will have the same experience, but what this film gave me in less than 2 hours was a mixture of emotions that ultimately boils down to one thing: it made me feel human.
Between the darkness and the light. Between tradition and modernity. Between the constraints of society and our necessary individualities. Between the chaos of an urban jungle and the calm monotony of a small community. Between concrete and the sea.
There is a set of dichotomies at play in this work by Payal Kapadia that always make us see life from different perspectives. It doesn't seek to judge. It doesn't seek to indoctrinate. It seeks to show that we are all human, all full of desires, all with dreams, illusions, disappointments, and fears.
Between Prabha's story (Kani Kusruti) and Anu's story (Divya Prabha), don't ask me to choose. Both are fascinating. Both are fully realized characters. Neither of them has certainties, but both want something they don't have. Both Kusruti and Prabha are at a level of luxury, a level worthy of awards, where their performances make me want to revisit and rediscover micro-expressions, gestures, and attitudes. The dialogue between them is always delivered perfectly. They know each other, they know what to say, and even when they disagree, sometimes words aren't even needed. The feeling is always there and, oh boy, they made me feel!
Adding to the two stunning performances, we also have an excellent Chhaya Kadam as Parvaty, perfectly serving as the third element in this story, always with great importance from the perspective of social critique. Even minor roles, like Azees Nedumangad as Dr. Manoj, have their moment in the spotlight, such as in that powerful scene where he is willing to stay if there's a chance for him to find his "light."
Technically, Kapadia accomplishes things on par with the best that's ever been done in cinema. Relying on a mesmerizing cinematography -melding a dreamy, melancholic atmosphere -and a wonderful sound component that envelops us warmly, she is in control of every element from the very first scene, where she makes it clear that this is a film about people. And she portrays the people and that unique city, so full of dreams and illusions, that is Mumbai, so well. She surprises with several techniques - like when she "hides" the target of certain actions until the last moment. She incorporates, through her brilliant script, several humorous lines perfectly put on screen, and uses nature in a way that - yes, I'll be very basic in this comparison - reminds me of masters like Satyajit Ray in the way she films the sea, the trees, and all other living beings around us. We are all part of the same ecosystem. We are all part of this world and it can be beautiful in any place.
The way everything unfolds calmly, reflectively, with such strong yet never expository dialogue... all of this has a rare realism because it does this while entertaining, without ever being a boring film. There's always movement, always progression, always something more to be said and explored.
A masterpiece and my favourite of 2024.
