Cannes/IBNS: Payal Kapadias All We Imagine As Light, which is the first Indian film in 30 years to compete for the top prize at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, was premiered to a massive cheer from the audience on Thursday.
The film, which is competing in the Palme dOr, received a 8-minute standing ovation after it was screened.
Kapadias film, which features Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam, Hridu Haroon, has already garnered positive reviews.
Giving 5 stars in its review, The Guardian called the film glorious an absorbing story full of humanity.
The critic has analysed the film keeping it at par with Oscar winning Indian filmmaker Satyajit Rays Mahanagar and Aranyer Din Ratri.
Luminous Red Steps ? Monte des Marches lumineuse
ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT PAYAL KAPADIA
Avec lquipe du film / With the film crew
? Chhaya Kadam, Hridhu Haroon, Kani Kusruti, Payal Kapadia, Divya Prabha, Ranabir Das, Julien Graff, Zico Maitra, Thomas Hakim#Cannes2024 pic.twitter.com/upZGnVqEPe
Festival de Cannes (@Festival_Cannes) May 23, 2024
IndieWire in its review says, This casual everyday vignette is brimming with a sensuality (the rain, the clothes, the food, the women) that people dont tend to notice when caught up in the rhythm of life.
It takes a snapshot from a photographer removed from the situation to make you realise how full these moments are.
All We Imagine As Light is a story about two nurses from the south Indian state of Kerala working at a hospital and living together at a congested apartment in Mumbai.
The story tracks the two nurses- Prabha and Anu- who suffer in their individual relationships.
While Prabhas husband lives in Germany and barely keeps in touch, Anu is in a relationship with a Muslim man from Kerala knowing the relationship wont be approved by her family.
Prabha is played by Kani Kasruti while Anu is essayed by Divya Prabha.
Speaking to Deadline about the film, Kapadia, 38, said, India is a country that makes a lot of good films. Not just Bollywood but every state has its industry and there are absolutely brilliant filmmakers.
I hope that after this we wont have to wait another 30 years, she added.
It is to be noted, no Indian female director has ever competed for the Palme dOr, which is yet to be won by any director from the South Asian country.
