For example, we find out that the police body cameras can only show things that happen to the officer, not necessarily things that the officer does to other people. They can decide when a file is saved to be used for evidence. The surveillance plane also has its literal and metaphorical blind spots as well. There is also a focus group that looks at a series of images and tell the crew whether or not they built a narrative in their mind. It’s kind of a trick question because our mind and sight work together to build narratives out of things we see naturally. However, everyone’s literal and metaphorical point of view is subjective and can be manipulated.
“…awesome and truly magical…”
That is just a brief plot synopsis and does not convey how awesome and truly magical All Light, Everywhere is. The score by Dan Deacon, which is pop-noise at its best, highlights the trippy nature of what we’re learning about. There is a narrator that tells us she is the narrator (Keaver Brenai), which is just one example of how self-aware it all is. There’s a really cool scene at the end where a series of composite photos start singing the Dan Deacon song that plays through the credits. Oh, that’s another thing we learn about—the creation of the composite sketch! There are many, many other cool discoveries made throughout history that are highlighted.
Basically, I have never seen a documentary that was this mind-bending. It contains so much information that I want to watch it again so I could commit it to memory. The best thing about All Light, Everywhere is how it truly encompasses all things having to do with sight and how it can be manipulated. More importantly, it makes us aware of the manipulations to where we might be more conscious of our surroundings and the things we encounter visually on a daily basis. I think that’s very important work, and I’m pretty sure if you watch the film, you will agree.
All Light, Everywhere screened at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and the 2021 Hot Docs Film Festival.
"…encompasses all things having to do with sight and how it can be manipulated."
