Strong images and a hopeful ending
Captivating moments at the ELM summer cinema with "All we imagine as light".
There were powerful images, sometimes dark and quiet, then again full of life by the sea, sad moments with a great hope at the end: the Indian film "All we imagine as light" captivated the audience in front of Hanover's Luther Church in the original language with German subtitles. The title "All we imagine as light", translated into German, fulfils its promise.
In cooperation with the Nordstadt parish and Cinema del Sol, the Office for International Church Cooperation of the Ev.-luth Mission in Lower Saxony (ELM) was able to hold the summer cinema for the fifth year. After two "rainy events", where the films could only be shown in the church, everyone was happy about the warm summer evening with cinema on the church forecourt.
The organisers were repeatedly asked what was going on during the set-up. Some viewers spontaneously joined in this way. The more than 100 chairs provided were quickly filled. Others came with their own chairs and blankets, others used seating from a neighbouring café or sat on the floor. The atmosphere in the colourful audience was good.
The Cannes award-winning film "All we imagine as light" is not a loud film. If you're looking for comedy and action, you won't find it. Three women work together as nurses. Nurse Prabha lives with her younger colleague and flatmate Anu in Mumbai. Prabha's husband has moved to Germany for work and the two are no longer in contact. Meanwhile, Anu is dating Shiaz, a Muslim, which causes rumours among the Hindus in the hospital. Meanwhile, Parvaty, an elderly nurse, is trying to save her house from property sharks. Later, the three women travel to Parvaty's hometown, as she has given up the fight for her flat and moves back to the countryside. From Mumbai to the sea . . Symbolically, the film moves towards new freedoms and more self-determination. and ends with a hopeful scene by the sea.
Whether a woman can lead a self-determined and free life in India depends heavily on her religion and caste, her social class, her level of education and that of her environment. As two thirds of people in India are part of the rural population, who often do not have access to education comparable to people in the city, the majority of women are still cut off from emancipatory movements.
Despite massive violence against women and girls, women's rights activists in India are calling for women to be seen as more than just victims. This leads to a lack of resistance and stigmatisation. Many women are resisting their role in society and are fighting against oppression and for a self-determined life.
The ELM would like to support its Indian partners on the ground in this endeavour. As an example from India, Ute Penzel (EKM Ecumenical Cooperation India Officer) cited the promotion of girls in their education regardless of their religion and caste.
The longing of the three protagonists in the film for a better life resonates. The visitors leave the forecourt of the Luther Church with this hope. At midnight, the solar cinema is stowed away in the cargo bikes again and all the chairs have been cleared away. What a wonderful evening.
