Period drama branded ‘fantastic’ available to stream on Netflix

The 2023 period drama All The Light We Cannot See is currently streaming on Netflix UK.

The limited series tells the story of a blind French teenager Marie-Laure (Aria Mia Loberti) and a German soldier (Louis Hofmann) who attempt to weather the devastation of World War II together.

It also stars Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie in supporting roles, as Daniel and Etienne LeBlanc; Marie-Laure’s father and uncle, respectively.

Based on the Pulitzer prize winning novel by Anthony Doerr, it was picked up for adaptation by Netflix in 2019, with Free Guy filmmaker Shawn Levy attached to direct and Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight on screenplay duties.

All four episodes were first added to the streaming service in November 2023, where they remain to this day.

Since its release, viewers have responded to its emotional story and powerful performances from its leading pair.

All The Light We Cannot See currently boasts an 81% positive audience score on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, with Asha B describing it as ‘a show with substance and depth.’

Meanwhile, user C W called it ‘simply fantastic,’ and ‘a beautiful piece of storytelling.’

‘Excellent series. Ruff also is fantastic and the cinematography is wonderful,’ said Bad B.

Helen W described it as: ‘A beautiful story albeit told without compromise,’ adding ‘you should watch!’

Critics were more divided on the adaptation, contributing to a 28% ‘rotten’ score,although most praised its production values and cinematography.

‘All the Light We Cannot See starts off strong and will keep viewers engaged from the beginning until the very end,’ wrote Ready Steady Cut.

It’s worth watching for Loberti’s outstanding performance and the generally impressive production value,’ said Paste Magazine, while bemoaning that it ‘could have been so much more.’

Meanwhile, NPR called it ‘worthwhile and heartening.’

The show marks the acting debut of Aria Mia Loberti, who is herself, legally blind.

‘When you decide, as I did, to open up the casting process to low vision and legally blind contenders for this protagonist, who is herself blind, it’s not like you can go the usual route,’ director Levy told Town & Country Magazine.

‘It’s not like the talent agencies have filled their rosters with actors who are blind; it’s not a big pool. That’s why I opened it up with a global casting search announced in a blitz, and we got hundreds and hundreds of self-tapes from people who just filmed an audition on their laptop or their phone.

‘Among those, I noticed one from a young woman named Aria Mia Loberti, and while at that point I didn’t know anything about her, I knew that there was something about her that popped,’ the Deadpool & Wolverine director added.

‘What was difficult was being a first-time actress,’ said Loberti of her debut performance.

‘I had never been on a set before and that was the challenge. I brought a lot from my day-to-day life—my ballet training and martial arts training—with me to the stunts.

‘I got to do all the stunts except for driving the car. Having Shawn as my guide was amazing and I am grateful to him for believing in me.’

All The Light We Cannot See is currently streaming on Netflix UK.

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