Directed by Payal Kapadia • 2024 • France, India, Netherlands
Starring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam

Set against the hypnotic luminescence of Mumbai, Payal Kapadia’s acclaimed fiction-feature debut is a radiant ode to hope-giving connections forged amid big-city anonymity. Roommates and nurses Prabha (Kani Kusruti) and Anu (Divya Prabha) contend with challenging personal lives—reserved Prabha has not heard from her expatriate husband for over a year, and outgoing, playful Anu must conceal her liaisons with a Muslim man (Hridhu Haroon) in a climate of rising Hindu nationalism—while a onetime colleague, hospital cook Parvathy (Chhaya Kadam), prepares to move back to her childhood village after being evicted. Over the course of an enchanting seaside getaway, these three women establish a tight-knit sisterhood. Kapadia became the first Indian woman to enter the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival with the Grand Prix–winning ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT—a deep-rooted study of the fortifying power of friendship, propelled by moving performances and the director’s compassionate eye.

“Flat-out wonderful, one of the finest of the year . . . It’s shockingly beautiful.”
—Manohla Dargis, The New York Times (Critic’s Pick)

“One of the year’s great movies, in any form, style, or language.”
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker

“★★★★! A stunning narrative debut . . . A reminder of the transcendent power of cinema.”
—Lindsey Bahr, Associated Press

“The surprise masterpiece of 2024.”
—David Fear, Rolling Stone

THE #1 FILM OF THE YEAR ACCORDING TO
The New York Times
Sight and Sound
Film Comment
Associated Press
The Hollywood Reporter
Screen International

WINNER – NATIONAL SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS
Best Director
Best Film Not in the English Language

WINNER – NEW YORK FILM CRITICS CIRCLE
Best International Film

WINNER – LOS ANGELES FILM CRITICS CIRCLE
Best Film Not in the English Language