Introduction

All the Light We Cannot See is an American historical drama miniseries directed by Shawn Levy and developed by Steven Knight for Netflix.

Based on Anthony Doerr’s novel, it stars Aria Mia Loberti, Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie. The four-part series follows the stories of a blind French girl named Marie-Laure and a German soldier named Werner, whose paths cross in occupied France during World War II.

Outline

The story of Marie-Laure, a blind French teenager, and Werner, a German soldier, whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.

Cast

• Main:
  • Aria Mia Loberti as Marie-Laure LeBlanc, a blind French teenage girl and the daughter of Daniel LeBlanc
  • Louis Hofmann as Unterfeldwebel Werner Pfennig, a young German boy who eventually becomes a soldier specializing in detecting and tracking radio frequencies.
  • Lars Eidinger as Standartenführer Reinhold von Rumpel, an officer of the SS who certifies and evaluates art, jewelry.
  • Hugh Laurie as Etienne LeBlanc, a reclusive World War I veteran suffering from PTSD and the great-uncle of Marie-Laure
  • Mark Ruffalo as Daniel LeBlanc, father of Marie-Laure and a locksmith at the Museum of Natural History in Paris
  • Marion Bailey as Madame Manec

• Recurring Guest Stars:
  • Nell Sutton as young Marie-Laure LeBlanc
  • Jakob Diehl as Hauptsturmführer Müller
  • Rosie Hilal as Frau Elena
  • Felix Kammerer as Scharführer Schmidt
  • Andrea Deck as Sandrina
  • James Dryden as Monsieur Caron
  • Corin Silva as Gefreiter Frank Volkheimer
  • Luna Wedler as Jutta Pfennig
  • Bernd Hölscher as Oberst Bastian
  • Ed Skrein as Obersturmbannführer Rudolf Seidler
  • Pascal Ulli as Dr. Heinrich
  • Richard Sammel as Dr. Hauptmann
  • Rhashan Stone as Professor Hublin, the French museum foreman
  • Elizabeth Dulak as Jacqueline
  • Sarah Crowden as Madame Blanchard
  • Maggie Daniels as Madame Fontineau

Production

In March 2019, Netflix and 21 Laps Entertainment acquired the rights to develop a limited television series adaptation of the novel with Shawn Levy, Dan Levine and Josh Barry executive producing. In September 2021, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a series order consisting of four episodes, with Steven Knight writing the series and Levy directing all episodes. In December 2021, it was announced that Aria Mia Loberti would play as Marie-Laure.

In January 2022, it was announced that both Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie joined the cast, set as leads opposite Loberti. Ruffalo is set to portray Daniel LeBlanc, while Laurie will portray Etienne LeBlanc. In February 2022, it was announced that Louis Hofmann, Lars Eidinger and Nell Sutton joined the cast. Filming took place between March and July 2022 in Budapest, Saint-Malo and Villefranche-de-Rouergue (Aveyron department, south of France), with the main scenes (street, bombings, Saint-Malo liberation) being filmed in the latter. This town was chosen for its ancient central square similar to Saint-Malo’s before the World War II destruction, and for its familiar 1940s style streets. The shooting in Villefranche-de-Rouergue took place from 05 to 20 July 2022. A large part of the town was adapted for all production needs.

Music

Composer James Newton Howard wrote the musical score for the series.

Release

On 18 April 2023, first look photos and the first teaser trailer for the series were released. It was also announced that the series was scheduled to be released on 02 November 2023.

Differences from the Book

Etienne, Marie-Laure’s great uncle, died in the series. In the book however he was put in prison and eventually got out and reunited with Marie-Laure.

Werner’s extended backstory in the book from his childhood and training with the Nazi was condensed at the start of the series. And near the end, his role in saving Marie-Laure was also significantly altered. In the book, he killed Reinhold von Rumpel to protect Marie-Laure, while in the series, Werner helped Marie-Laure by fighting Reinhold von Rumpel and distracting him from finding her, but it is Marie at the end who managed to fatally shoot von Rumpel.

Another key difference is the extended encounter and a moment of romance between the two main characters, which did not happen in the book. In the book, Marie-Laure and Werner met only for a short time after he saved her at her hideout and before he was captured by the Allied Soldiers. In the series, they instead had more than a few hours together at her place, where they had a slow dance and a kiss. Author Anthony Doerr has shared that over the years he had received feedbacks from “lots of readers” reflecting their disappointment at the brief encounter of the two main characters near the end of the story, which had been built-up throughout their separate storylines in the book. He saw the miniseries as a remedy for this to the fans of the original story who wanted more.

In addition, the series ended after the teenaged Marie-Laure threw the Sea of Flames stone into the ocean; while in the book, the storyline moved on to decades later when the old Marie-Laure, now over 80 and once again living in Paris, received the miniature house and the key that once belong to her, back from Werner’s sister. With this major removal of the storyline in the later years, Jutta, Werner’s sister, therefore does not re-appear; and she and Marie-Laure never cross path in the series.

Trivia

• The decision to cast legally blind actors to play the role of the main character Marie-Laure was praised for its breakthrough representation of blind and low-vision performers.
• Aria Mia Loberti’s acting debut.
  • She was a Ph.D. candidate when she auditioned for an open call for actresses who are blind or vision impaired.
  • Her service dog accompanied her during filming in Budapest.
• All the German actors dubbed themselves in the German dub of the series.

All The Light We Cannot See Series

• Part 01.
• Part 02.
• Part 03.
• Part 04.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Shawn Levy … (4 episodes, 2023)
• Producer(s):
  • Josh S. Barry … co-executive producer (4 episodes, 2023)
  • John Bernard … line producer: France (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Becca Edelman … associate producer (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Rand Geiger … producer (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Ildiko Kemeny … co-producer (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Steven Knight … executive producer (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Dan Levine … executive producer (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Shawn Levy … executive producer (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Josh McLaglen … producer (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Mary McLaglen … producer (4 episodes, 2023)
  • David Minkowski … co-producer (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Mónika Nagy … line producer: Hungary (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Joe Strechay … associate producer (4 episodes, 2023)
• Writer(s):
  • Anthony Doerr … (based on the novel by) (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Steven Knight … (developed by) (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Steven Knight … (teleplay by) (4 episodes, 2023)
• Music:
  • James Newton Howard … (4 episodes, 2023)
• Cinematography:
  • Tobias A. Schliessler … (4 episodes, 2023)
• Editor(s):
  • Dean Zimmerman … (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Casey Cichocki … (2 episodes, 2023)
  • Jonathan Corn … (2 episodes, 2023)
• Production:
  • 21 Laps Entertainment
  • Pioneer Stillking Films
• Distributor(s):
  • Netflix
• Release Date: 02 November 2023.
• Running time: 57 minutes.
• Rating: 15.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

Video Clip(s)