Tom Tykwer’s ‘Das Licht’ Explores Modern Family Struggles and Societal Challenges

The filmmaker’s first movie in nearly a decade combines genre-blending storytelling with critiques of migration, climate activism, and digital disconnection.

‘Das Licht’ centers on the Engels family, a dysfunctional Berlin household, and their Syrian housekeeper, Farrah, whose therapeutic lamp helps them confront personal and societal conflicts.
The film critiques ecological ignorance, generational failures, and global economic instability, reflecting Tykwer’s concerns about modern societal challenges.
Tykwer employs a mix of drama, satire, animation, and musical elements, with Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ serving as a thematic and musical motif.
Critical reception has been polarized, with some praising the film’s ambition and others finding its thematic density and stylistic experimentation overwhelming.
This marks Tykwer’s return to cinema after nearly a decade focused on the acclaimed series ‘Babylon Berlin,’ with a renewed focus on contemporary issues.

Augsburger Allgemeine