All We Imagine as Light: A Meditation on Belonging
This Indian film delves into the beauty of the mundane.
"Mumbai is a city of illusions. People say you must not be dissatisfied, even if you live in a gutter. You have to believe in a fairy tale, or you'll lose your mind," say the residents of Mumbai in the Indian drama film All We Imagine as Light. Here, the city emerges almost as a living, separate entity that not only provides shelter but also permeates all its inhabitants, altering their usual structure.
Award-winning sensuality
All We Imagine as Light premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Grand Prix. Since then, the film has received numerous other awards, most recently being named Best Film at the 18th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong.
The movie was directed by Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia. Incredibly sensual, it immerses the audience in a vibrant portrait of Mumbai, where colorfulness contrasts sharply with poverty. This is undoubtedly not a standard Bollywood-style film—there are no polished streets or embellishments. At the same time, poverty is depicted as a backdrop rather than the film’s main narrative focus.
The beauty of everyday life
All We Imagine as Light delves into the personal journeys of three women—Prabha, Anu, and Parvaty—each navigating her own challenges within the city's complex social fabric. It highlights the small, everyday moments that shape their lives. Payal Kapadia masterfully captures the beauty of the mundane, where, despite imperfections, there is always room for light. The use of elements of magical realism only enhances this effect.
All three protagonists work in a hospital, yet each faces her own struggles—loneliness due to a husband working abroad, an inter-caste love affair, and legal issues with housing. Besides work, what also unites them is the fact that none of them were born in this city; they all come from villages they had to leave behind.
A meditative reflection on belonging
The film powerfully explores the tension between tradition and urban life. This is particularly evident in Anu's story, as she falls in love with a man of a different caste, knowing that her parents would never approve of their marriage. However, despite depicting the painful rupture between village and city, the film also offers hope. It shows that when you no longer fully belong to the family you were born into, you can still find a new, supportive family—one made up of people who can understand your struggle.
Though the film primarily explores the challenges brought about by urbanization, it will resonate deeply with many migrants.
Overall, All We Imagine as Light is unlikely to appeal to fans of action, spectacle, or fast-paced storytelling. Instead, it offers a slow, meditative reflection on life itself—one that rewards patient observation. While some viewers may find this challenging, others will embrace the opportunity to immerse themselves in the film’s existential questions of love and belonging.
Connect with Facebook