- After suffering the sudden and traumatic loss of her only child, a woman wanders aimlessly through her life as if in a dream. She trudges onward because that is what she is supposed to do. Her grief has dulled her senses and covered up any sense of joy. The woman heads out into the countryside and meets a neighbor. The conversation with the neighbor (is she an angel?) enables the woman to see life through different eyes. The healing effect of nature helps the woman find hope. She moves on to the next phase of grief, acceptance, and in turn, peace.—Patricia Frontain
- When the film Light begins, we see THE WOMAN, portrayed by Marina Squerciati, moving silently and aimlessly through her life in a busy city. She is shut down, passionless and expressionless. She approaches a train but when the doors open, she decides that she can no longer go on this way and does not pass through the open doors. She chooses to turn away from the train and travel in a different direction.
The woman continues to walk through the city. When she enters her car, she takes out a piece of paper with an address on it. She starts the car and drives out of the city and into the country. Where is she going and why? She arrives at a small house in the woods, situated next to a lake. Is she going there to hide from the world? Is she going to take her own life? When she looks at the lake, she exudes a tiny glint of happiness....a teeny, tiny spark of expression. Is this the private spot where she will chose to end her life and her exhausting journey?
THE NEIGHBOR (is she an angel?) portrayed by Amy Morton, appears suddenly, as if out of nowhere. A very brief conversation ensues. We learn that the woman feels overwhelmed and distraught by the evil in the world. Her son has been dead for two years and the weight of her grief has crushed her and stolen her ability to see joy in the world. A brief conversation with the neighbor helps her realize that the goodness and light in the world far outweighs the darkness and evil. In a split second, the neighbor disappears and with her gone, the heavy silence returns.
The next morning, the woman, unsure of herself, nonetheless feels drawn to the water. As she remembers the neighbor's words, she sets out in a kayak. While exploring the lake, she witnesses the beauty of nature -- the sights and sounds of the animals, the caress of the wind and the rhythmic splashing of the water. She stands small and alone in the center of the lake, and yet, she feels her son... in the birds flying, in the turtles basking in the sun and in the warm sunshine enveloping her body and soul. She comes to the realization that he is not gone....that he is there with her and always will be and that he speaks to her through nature.
Once again the woman is able to feel joy and love and hope. Her journey is timeless and will continue, but she realizes that she has the strength to appreciate her time left on earth. She determines that she will allow herself to feel the beauty and joy and light that the world has to offer and she will no longer indulge in the ugliness, evil and darkness which is ever present in humanity.
Grief is universal and experienced by all. Whether a person is suffering the loss of a human, an animal, a job, or their health....The woman's story encourages us to use the healing powers of nature as a tool through the slow process of grief.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content