It is indeed contradictory to write a review on All The Light We Cannot See, especially during the season of the festival of lights, Diwali, but yet, here we go. I managed to watch this highly watched and much-criticized limited Netflix series last week. The story is based on one of the most acclaimed novels of the decade with the same name, written by Anthony Doerr.
Contradictions in Diwali Lights: Reviewing the Netflix Series
All The Light We Cannot See is set in the times of World War II, the plot revolves around a blind French girl caught up alone in the town of Nazi-invaded Saint Malo and broadcasts hidden messages to the Allies on an illegal radio show every night. A German Nazi soldier Werner, who is a genius in intercepting messages, is tasked to find the illegal radio operators and destroy their resources. Their paths cross around D-Day when France is eventually rescued by the Allied forces. We would anticipate the French and Germans to be enemies, but these two had one thing in common.
In their childhood, they both listened to the broadcasts of a professor who would send messages of hope and light to the kids in the times of war. So when they finally meet each other, there is more of a connection of hope than the animosity of war between them.
All The Light We Cannot See: Adaptation and Creative Liberties
The book is a prolific piece of literature; it is poetry in the war times. It is the sheer magic of words and a lyrical read despite the atrocious times it is set in. To make an adaptation out of it is, by itself, a big deal. When the story is presented on the screen, it is obviously gloomy, the image we built up in our minds about the magical Saint Malo is shattered. The makers have taken a lot of creative liberty with the plot, thus deviating from the book by a large extent. The book had such brilliant lines; I wonder why the dialogues were so shallow. This, coupled with some bland acting, does make this series a melancholy watch.
Notable Performances: Aria Mia Loberti, Mark Ruffalo, Hugh Laurie
But I ought not to have the heart to bash it completely yet. It was a sincere effort; a lot of research has gone into making this series; a blind actress with no prior acting experience has been roped in to play the lead role. Aria Mia Loberti does a fantastic job as Marie-Laure. Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie are commendable in their roles and add great depth to their characters. And the movie, like the book, conveys the same message. In the midst of the darkness and horror of war, the “Light” refers to hope.
Perhaps, this season of Diwali and Thanksgiving, we should take this opportunity to look beyond what is perceivable to the eye and pay attention to All The Light We Cannot See. Be thankful and grateful for what we have, as in another part of the world, this very moment, there is more than one war going on. People are clinging on to their dear lives looking for a glimmer of hope, just to survive.
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