‘All the Light We Cannot See’ TV Show Review (TIFF 2023)
Image credit: Courtesy of TIFF
Written by: Gracie Lowes
After the success ‘The Adam Project’ received, it’s no surprise that Netflix and Shawn Levy have teamed up to bring yet another important and touching story to life.
In the year 1944 Saint-Malo was hit by the dark times of World War II, German soldiers had taken over and locked all the townspeople in while the Allied forces began their bombing.
Despite the dark times 16-year-old Marie-Laure is determined to keep a positive attitude and continue her work of broadcasting Allied intelligence for the French resistance movement.
And leaving messages at the end of each broadcast in hopes of reconnecting with her father who has now been missing for years.
The only problem with the plan is that anti-German radio broadcasts are illegal and punishable by death.
When Werner Pfennig, a German soldier who specializes in detecting and tracking radio frequencies, locates Marie’s broadcast he’s faced with the difficult choice of either following his duty and finding and executing Marie, or following his gut and sparing her in hopes that she will bring light back to the people and end the war.
But Werner quickly realizes he’ll have to choose a side faster than he thought when he finds out he’s not the only soldier looking for Marie, and the others won’t hesitate to follow their orders.
Based on the hit novel of the same name by Anthony Doerr, the limited drama series features performances by Aria Mia Loberti, Louis Hofmann, Hugh Laurie, Lars Eidinger, Mark Ruffalo, Andrea Deck, Luna Wedler, Tomm Voss, and more
With the show being directed by Shawn Levy it was no surprise that the iconic filmmaker was able to bring this beloved book to life in such a visually captivating way while still staying true to the original content.
From the opening shot, Levy’s cinematography and direction of shots can pull viewers into the story of Marie’s journey as a blind teenager during World War II. One thing that really stood out to me was the details in the shots, despite the main character being blind Levy taps into the other senses that are heightened such as touch and hearing.
Marie’s hands have a lot of close-up shots when she uses her radio, not only does this show all the marks and wear-out proving that she uses this equipment every single day, but it also shows how she has learned to live on her own and adapt to things that others might find simple. This ultimately shows her dedication and perseverance for the cause she’s working towards.
Alongside the breathtaking shots, the actors in this series delivered amazing performances.
Two that stand out and steal the show are Aria Mia Loberti as Marie-Laure LeBlanc and Nell Sutton as Young Marie-Laure LeBlanc
Not only is the resemblance in the younger and adult versions on point but also both actresses had the drive and talent to bring this character to life despite these being both of their first-ever acting roles.
Sutton, who was born with congenital glaucoma, has amazing chemistry with Mark Ruffalo who plays her father. From the touching tours of his workplace to finding ways to bring the world light and life that she could enjoy, the pair had an undeniable chemistry that was only enhanced by Sutton’s honest and heartfelt delivery of her lines.
Lobreti, who is legally blind was a big fan of the book so she jumped at the chance to audition for the show. It’s a good thing she did because her passion for not only the story but also as an advocate for disability equity and representation is clear in her performance.
She is able to pull viewers into the story and make them feel as though they are in each moment with Marie, and I think that can sometimes be difficult to convey with stories that have such meaningful topics, not only for actors but for actors in their first ever role.
Overall, I give the first two episodes of ‘All the Light We Cannot See’ 5 out of 5 stars.
From the complex yet beautiful storyline to the heart-wrenching performances, this Netflix limited series has something that everyone can appreciate and enjoy.
If you enjoyed the book by Anthony Doerr, ‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’ or ‘Call To Spy, A’ I highly recommend watching ‘All the Light We Cannot See’ when it releases on Netflix on November 2, 2023.
