Tom Tykwer’s 'The Light' Divides Critics After Berlin Film Festival Premiere

The 162-minute film explores themes of white guilt, family dysfunction, and globalization but has been criticized for its overindulgence and lack of focus.

• The film, directed by Tom Tykwer, opened the 2025 Berlin Film Festival and is his most personal project to date, though its reception has been polarizing.
• Set in Berlin, the story follows a dysfunctional family and their Syrian housekeeper, using a mix of drama, sci-fi elements, and musical sequences to explore themes of trauma and empathy.
• Critics have highlighted the film’s excessive runtime and sprawling narrative, which some feel dilutes its intended message on globalization and societal disconnection.
• The film incorporates experimental elements, such as an LED therapy device central to the plot, but these have been described as confusing and off-putting by reviewers.
• Despite its ambition, reviewers have noted that 'The Light' struggles to balance its heavy themes with its unconventional storytelling approach, leaving its impact muted.

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