Anthony Doerr's bestselling novel "All the Light We Cannot See" has been adapted into four episodes written and directed by an appealing artistic pairing, Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders and Taboo) and Shawn Levy (The Adam Project- who reunites here with Mark Ruffalo). Here our miniseries review.
all the light we cannot see - Mark Ruffalo Aria Mia Loberti
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All the Light We Cannot See, The Plot
Marie-Laure LeBlanc (Aria Mia Loberti) is a visually impaired girl growing up in Paris with her father Daniel (Mark Ruffalo), the primary locksmith for France’s National Museum of Natural History, and the eventual guardian of the Sea of Flames. War is upon them, the Nazis have invaded the city already, and Daniel leads her by the hand through rough and unfamiliar paths, building a miniature map of various cities for her “so that she will always know how to get back and be free.” Daniel, however, has a secret, he hides one of the most precious, legendary, and cursed stones in France with him, while Marie listens every night to the 13.10 radio wave, the same one that will unknowingly bind her to the young German soldier Werner Pfennig (Louis Hofmann).
Marie and Daniel soon move in with relatives in the small town of Saint Malo to escape the Nazi invaders and to protect their secrets. But there, after the mysterious disappearance of her father, the girl will have to overcome various challenges and send coded messages to the Resistance with her uncle, war veteran Etienne (Hugh Laurie, Dr. House).
On the girl’s trail is Reinhold von Rumpel (Lars Eidinger), a German army officer determined to do anything to recover the famous “elixir of life” guarded by Daniel, in the name of France. Later fate will lead Marie to cross paths with young Werner, who is determined to chase the echoes and sounds of childhood, eventually discovering them in the young protagonist’s attic.
All the Light We Cannot See, The Review
Marie-Laure doesn’t need light to see. In a scene from the first episode, she is shown locked in the attic of her house, still standing despite massive bombings. Werner, on the other hand, is trapped under the rubble of a basement. Cold and heat, light and dark, blend and nullify each other, all due to the faint, imperceptible sound that weaves through the years of World War II, binding the fate of these two children beyond space and time.
The series “All the Light We Cannot See” is a gift for those who can perceive the light beyond the darkness of things, the profound meaning of humanity beyond the annihilation of human reality.
All the Light We Cannot See – Louis Hofmann and Aria Mia Loberti
Aria Mia Loberti and Mark Ruffalo’s performance
The performance of this young actress is compelling, as is the familial chemistry she shares with the dynamic Mark Ruffalo. While restrained in his displays of affection and outward feelings, he exhibits a profound dedication to sacrificing his life to protect his daughter and his country.
Daniel is not just a father to Marie but a life companion, an enlightened guide who will teach her that “everything has a voice. All you have to do is listen.” He serves as the most authentic reflection of a young girl whose uniqueness lies less in seeing than in hearing. What often gives voice to this relationship is the sweetness of a glance, or the tenderness of a silent embrace.
His role as a supporting character is crucial as it lays the groundwork for the remainder of Marie-Laure’s journey. Daniel’s devotion to his daughter’s safety, independence, and education ultimately gives her the tools she needs to survive the war and forge a successful life for herself in its aftermath. He models a deep intelligence and powerful resilience for his young daughter, and also teaches her the value of self-reliance to ensure that she can make a life for herself, even after he is gone.
In this plot, where the lights we cannot see are more important than the obvious ones, Nazi General Reinhold von Rumpel will ask Daniel a simple but fatal question: “Is pain stronger than love?”
All the Light We Cannot See – Nell Sutton and Mark Ruffalo
Series’ structure and message
Here, the direction excels at capturing details, delving into the core of matters, urging the characters to unveil themselves beyond the light. The series aims to create a crack in the dark landscape of wars to instead explore the theme of love. The love of a father for his daughter. Of a partisan for his country. Of a German soldier for a non-Aryan girl, torn between the emotions’ humanity and the rigidity of duty.
Sometimes it’s challenging to keep up with the pace and flashbacks of the series, as condensing a 500-plus page book into four episodes inevitably requires careful selection and editing. The director’s aim was to shine a spotlight on one of the darkest and painful periods in history, making an extremely timely appeal against all forms of horror, crime, and war. “All the Light We Cannot See” doesn’t rely on complicated sophistry, its strength lies in its simplicity. The narrative is direct and well-constructed, allowing it to effectively reach the audience. At its core is a seemingly essential concept, yet one often overlooked by an increasingly dehumanized society: knowledge and truth are the key to true salvation.
Marie and Werner, thanks to the words heard on the radio by an unknown professor speaking to children, have grown up with this deeper awareness, and will be able to recognize instantly themselves with “eyes closed” in the lights that others are apparently unable to see.
All the Light We Cannot See – Hugh Laurie and Mark Ruffalo
Screenplay and photography
“All the Light We Cannot See” is a challenging yet luminous series for its deep dialogues, seamlessly blending sweetness with bitterness, delicacy with roughness, and sadness with poeticism. Through warm colors, soft lighting, and meticulously crafted set designs, Steven Knight’s screenplay and Shawn Levy’s direction aim to create a recognizable and tangible environment. Furthermore, the series benefits from the insights of Joe Strechay, listed among the executive producers, particularly regarding the portrayal of blindness and ensuring accessibility.
A flawless aesthetic refinement is matched by a great depth of content, with the aim of conveying a simple message to viewers: there are no boundaries, apart from natural ones, that can justify the cruelty and ferocity of hatred. The final episode of the film overturns a central point described in the book: it will not be Werner who kills general Reinhold von Rumpel but rather the young Marie, with all the determination of a dreamer who hasn’t ceased to resist and, despite everything, to keep the light of hope burning.
