‘All We Imagine as Light’ Director Payal Kapadia Looks Beyond India’s Oscar Snub, Talks Identity Politics With Kore-eda Hirokazu at Tokyo Festival

As a seasoned movie buff with a keen eye for emerging talent and a deep appreciation for cross-cultural cinema, I am captivated by the extraordinary journey of Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia. Her film “All You Imagine as Light,” despite not making it as India’s Oscar submission, has left an indelible mark on the global film scene.


Despite the buzz surrounding her film “All You Imagine as Light,” Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia takes it all in stride and maintains a sense of grace after learning that it wasn’t chosen as India’s entry for the Oscars.

30 years had passed since an Indian film premiered in competition at Cannes, but “All We Imagine as Light” broke that streak. The movie was also recognized by France’s Oscar committee. Notably, Mira Nair became the first female Indian director to win the Grand Prix at Cannes. With its upcoming wide distribution, this film could potentially become one of the most widely distributed independent Indian films ever made.

Kapadia expressed his contentment on Tuesday, stating that the movie has exceeded his expectations and he’s quite pleased with its development so far. He added that any additional success it encounters is just an extra bonus.” (during a talk at the Tokyo International Film Festival’s TIFF Lounge series with Korean filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda)

The conversation delved into several elements of modern Indian filmmaking, with Kore-eda examining the intricacies surrounding female representation in Indian culture. Meanwhile, Kapadia highlighted the diverse dimensions of character identity within Indian cinema.

As a cinephile, I’d put it this way: “India is a tapestry of identities, and within the broad spectrum of gender lies a rich diversity. Factors such as caste, religion, class, language, ethnicity, region, and access to resources all contribute significantly to our unique identities. In a nation that grapples with inequality on multiple fronts, gender is just one piece of this complex puzzle.

Regarding his depiction of geishas in “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” on Netflix, Kore-eda expressed that he must continually evolve how he represents women. The question of how to portray them in today’s world was particularly intriguing to him. He sought the most authentic way to showcase these characters. Aware that there is a boundary between a man and his portrayal of a woman, as a male film director, he pondered over what would be the most effective approach for representing a female character from his perspective.

The movie titled ‘All We Imagine as Light’ focuses on two women residing in Mumbai, originating from Kerala, southern India. This concept stemmed from the filmmaker’s interaction with nurses within the city. The production showcases India’s rich linguistic tapestry, incorporating dialogues in Malayalam, Hindi, and Marathi, as well as documentary narrations in Bhojpuri, Gujarati, and Tamil.

Kapadia remarked that Mumbai is a city rich in diversity, with multiple languages being spoken. It’s an integral aspect of our culture that we don’t all share the same language, necessitating the use of a common tongue for mutual understanding.

The movie director observed that language obstacles in city environments have a twofold character – they can foster separation yet also establish secluded areas for confidential chats in public spaces.

Kapadia, an alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India, brought up the hurdles that independent filmmakers in the nation face, highlighting the absence of substantial post-film-school support structures. Her personal ventures have leaned on collaborative productions across international borders, such as funding from France.

In our chat, Kore-eda shared that his upcoming movie titled “All We Imagine as Light” is set to premiere in Japan by July 2025. This same film earned recognition when Kore-eda served as a juror on the Cannes competition jury.

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2024-10-29 17:46