Payal Kapadia’s acclaimed fiction-feature debut is a radiant ode to hope-giving connections forged amid big-city anonymity. Set against the hypnotic luminescence of Mumbai, All We Imagine as Light follows three very different women working at the same hospital—Prabha (Kani Kusruti), Anu (Divya Prabha), and Parvathy (Chhaya Kadam)—each contending with personal and material struggles amid a modernizing India riven by gentrification and rising Hindu nationalism. When Parvathy is evicted and forced to move back to her childhood village, Prabha and Anu travel with her to the seaside, where they shake loose their remaining secrets and—in one otherworldly sequence—a lingering ghost. Winner of the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival, All We Imagine as Light is a deep-rooted study of the fortifying power of friendship, propelled by moving performances and the director’s compassionate eye.

For in-depth thoughts on All We Imagine as Light, please see my colleague Liselotte Vanophem’s review from its original theatrical release here.

Video Quality

All We Imagine as Light comes to Blu-Ray in an AVC encoded transfer in 1.66:1 courtesy of Criterion Presents, which provides a first-rate presentation that deftly captures the natural aesthetic. This gorgeous presentation delivers a consistent image quality throughout without any obvious deficiencies. This digital production does not exhibit any signs of noise or compression as the sumptuous imagery delights in high definition. Colors are exceptional when it comes to the outfits, certain lighting flourishes, and lush vegetation outside of the city. Skin tones look natural throughout the runtime with exquisite detail on display. This transfer represents everything you want from a Blu-Ray release.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track in the original mixture of languages which offers an enjoyable listening experience. The natural soundscape of the city is filled with tons of discrete nuances that do a noble job of transporting you into this story. Activity in the low end is subtle yet helps provide additional texture to the world. The emotional score and other tunes are showcased accurately here with an enveloping use of the surround speakers that maintain precise fidelity. Dialogue comes through clearly without ever being clipped by the environmental elements. The sound design is not overly aggressive, but it serves its purpose very well. The track springs to life with the sounds of both urban bustle and serene nature. This is a terrific audio presentation that brings the movie to life without a hitch. Optional English subtitles are provided.

Special Features

The Criterion Presents Blu-Ray of All We Imagine as Light includes a leaflet featuring the essay “All We Imagine as Light: Luminous Hopes” by Michael Joshua Rowin in which he provides some good insight into and analysis of the film that helps highlight the deeper themes on display. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Meet The Filmmakers: A great 18-minute conversation with director Payal Kapadia in which she discusses her journey into film as an art form, her early work in the documentary space, the development of this story, the personal elements woven into the narrative, working with the performers on the language of the film, and much more that you will not want to miss.

Trailer (1:58)

Final Thoughts

All We Imagine as Light is at first an unassuming narrative that simply follows the minor dramas experienced by a small group of women in an Indian metropolis. The characters are quite different from one another, yet each of them lives a life of longing for different reasons. Through the thoughtful direction of Payal Kapadia, each story becomes universal to the viewer as emotions burst forth and pain is wrestled with. Each performance feels authentic and quite powerful in its raw vulnerability. Even with its critical acclaim, it deserves to have more people seeking it out. Criterion Presents has released a new Blu-Ray with a sterling A/V presentation and a valuable interview. Highly Recommended

The Criterion Presents edition of All We Imagine as Light will be available to purchase on July 22, 2025, on Blu-Ray and DVD.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Criterion Presents has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.