The other day, "All we imagine as light" won the prize for best film, best direction, and best ensemble acting at the International Cinephile Society Awards. Payal Kapadia is not least surprised by the prize rain, since this is her debut as a feature film director.
She was not the only debutant in feature films during the filming.
Most of us had not made a feature film before.
"All we imagine as light" – a title she chose because she thought it sounded poetic – is about three women living in Bombay (Mumbai) and trying to find themselves in a society largely characterized by poverty and gender differences.
The message is that the most important thing is to realize that you need something else. It's the first step to understanding what you really want.
Portrait of Bombay
Just as much as the film is a portrait of these three women, it is a portrait of certain parts of Bombay. The camera glides through the streets and captures life on the sidewalks. It reminds one of "Taxi Driver", where Martin Scorsese filmed street life in secret – and Kapadia says that's exactly what she did too.
One reason is that it's hard to get permission to film in Bombay and it costs a lot, only big Bollywood films can afford it. So we filmed with a small camera from inside a car..
She likes films that kind of emerge by chance, says Payal Kapadia.
Here, nothing was rehearsed, we had no restrictions, we filmed what happened. It was like making a documentary and then editing it with the scripted scenes. It felt incredibly liberating.
"Violence is never a problem"
The film contains a discreet sex scene, and Kapadia had prepared a ringing defense speech in case the state censorship would demand cuts.
Violence is never a problem. But they didn't want to cut anything. Instead, they set an 18-year age limit, which of course reduced the audience numbers. On the other hand, which child would want to see this?
Now Payal Kapadia continues to make films in India, and it's not least important for her to ensure that Indian films that aren't like the historical action drama "RRR" also reach the world.
My film was the first Indian film in 30 years to be selected for the competition in Cannes. Why? I have no idea.
Age: 39 years.
Lives: In Bombay.
Occupation: Screenwriter, director.
Previous films in selection: "The last mango before monsoon", "Afternoon clouds", "And what is the summer saying", "A night of knowing nothing".
Currently with: "All we imagine as light" with Swedish cinema premiere on 28/3.
