All We Imagine as Light' prepares for global release

Indian film heads to theatres in November after Cannes triumph

Grand Prix winner All We Imagine as Light is all set for a theatrical release in November, as per The Indian Express. The Payal Kapadia drama film was all the rage at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in May and will now be meeting a worldwide audience later this year. The Malayalam-language narrative follows the story of two nurses on different paths of love yet uniting in a sisterly solidarity in the bustling city of Mumbai.

The first international trailer opens with a glimpse of the setting - the hubbub of the populous city. Residents scurry about their routines, and then we meet our protagonist Prabha, who can be seen between scenes, minding both patients and domestic duties. Her flatmate Anu hurries in with a package from Germany - a cooking appliance from Prabha's husband.

The arrival of the no-brainer present leaves her pondering silently. "When did he last phone you?" wonders a companion during Prabha's commute in a different scene. "It's been over a year," Prabha admits, and then we see her in quiet distress during much duller scenes. "How could you marry a total stranger? I don't think I could," comments Anu.

Then the trailer takes us through the vivacious life of Anu, who ventures through various escapades with her lover and has an abundance of romantic dialogues to spend. That is until she is burdened by the knowledge that her parents are looking for someone to marry her off to, which is what brings her spirits down. "I don't want to," she declares. "You can't escape your fate," Prabha protests.

The film offers snippets of potentially memorable dialogues, such as, "Some people call this 'the city of dreams'. I think it's the city of illusions," and, "You have to believe the illusion or you'll go mad." The trailer then offers a montage of heartwarming moments between the female characters as they embrace each other and find joy in their collective existence. The trailer ends on the final note that even if one of them disappears, the others would always know, if no one else does.

The video also flashes a few lauding reviews from different sources. "A landmark work," observed David Fear of Rolling Stone. "Triumphant," said David Canfield of Vanity Fair. "Extraordinary," praised Sophie Monks Kaufman of Indiewire.

Even anticipating fans were thrilled in the comments section. "I have been waiting for so long to watch this," shared one user. "It looks very good. Love seeing Indian movies at Cannes. Hope more get that chance," hoped another. The Kani Kusruti and Divya Prabha starrer was the first Indian film in decades to be selected to compete at Cannes.