All We Imagine as Light: Release details, plot, cast and more about Payal Kapadia's Golden Globe-nominated drama film

Payal Kapadia-directed All We Imagine as Light entered the race at the Golden Globe Awards, going for Best Director and the Best Foreign Language Film. The film didn't bring any trophy home from the Globes, but did win several other awards including the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival, the Fiction Feature Prize at Montclair Film Festival, and Best International Film at the New York Film Critics Circle, among others.

Kapadia's directorial is essentially an Indian film with international co-production, with companies from France, Italy, and several other countries pitching in. The film is about two nurses living in Mumbai. While one is the outgoing sort, the other is an introvert.

Critics were happy with the film, with renowned critics including Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian giving it five stars. It was initially given a limited release in Kerela and later throughout India. While the film sits with a 7.2 rating on IMDb, it has a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Spoilers for All We Imagine as Light will follow in the article.

Release details about All We Imagine as Light

All We Imagine as Light premiered on May 23, 2024 at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was in competition for the Palme d'Or. The film received thunderous applause at Cannes, which ensured its stature among the top movies made in the year. Kapadia is the only Indian female filmmaker who made it to Cannes.

Before its theatrical release on November 22, 2024, the film opened at MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024. Janus Films released the film in North America in November 2024. There is a nationwide expansion plan for the US but details are under wraps.

The film is next scheduled to be screened at the 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam on January 30, 2025.

What is All We Imagine as Light about?

The story begins with a couple of nurses, Prabha and Anu, working in a Mumbai hospital. Parvaty, who also works at the hospital, later joins them in the film. Prabha, who is married, is more straitlaced and upright while Anu is an outgoing girl, having an affair with a man called Shiaz.

Parvaty is a widower who lives in low-quality housing that a builder wants to demolish, to build a skyscraper in its place. This coerces her to quit the job and go back to her village, Ratnagiri, while both her friends help her out in relocation.

Prabha's husband lives in Germany, the film mentions, but he unexpectedly appears only later. Initially, there are hints that Prabha does have feelings for him despite the man living abroad and maintaining no contact with her whatsoever over the years. Finally, however, she has a change of heart and doesn't want to be with him.

The cast of All We Imagine as Light

The female lead cast of All We Imagine as Light comprises Kani Kusruti as Prabha, Divya Prabha as Anu, and Chhaya Kadam as Parvathy. Shiaz is an impactful character, played by Hridhu Haroon. Other members appearing in the film are: