Netflix viewers are discovering a "moving" period drama that's leaving fans in tears and being hailed as "perfection". All The Light We Cannot See is gaining renewed attention as audiences praise the four-part limited series as one of the most emotionally powerful war dramas on the platform.
The 2023 series follows Marie-Laure, a blind teenage girl, and her father Daniel LeBlanc as they escape German-occupied Paris carrying a precious diamond. Adapted from Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, they are relentlessly pursued by a cruel Gestapo officer seeking the stone for his own means.
Star-studded cast with authentic representation
Aria Mia Loberti, who is legally blind, stars as Marie-Laure in her acting debut. Mark Ruffalo plays her father Daniel LeBlanc, while the cast also features Hugh Laurie as Uncle Etienne, Louis Hofmann as Werner, Lars Eidinger as Von Rumpel, and Marion Bailey as Madame Manec.
The story unfolds in St. Malo, where Marie-Laure and her father find refuge with a reclusive uncle who transmits clandestine radio broadcasts for the resistance. Marie-Laure's path collides with Werner, a brilliant teenager enlisted by Hitler's regime to track illegal broadcasts, who shares a secret connection to her and her faith in humanity.
Overwhelming viewer praise
Fans are sharing powerful responses on social media about the series' emotional impact. One viewer wrote: "Even after all the war she's been through she's still standing . . this made me sob like a child deep inside my soul, just wow it's perfection."
Another commented: "One of the most amazing war related TV shows out there. I wish more people knew of it. It has a beautiful, moving storyline, wonderful actors portraying strong and thoughtful characters. The atmosphere of war, the dressing, the music set the right mood for the viewer to enjoy. And it's got deep messages, love, care, light in it. I highly recommend."
Critical reception and casting breakthrough
A third viewer praised the "moving storylines, underlying statements about class, intelligence, and education. Excellent sets. A series with all the emotions." Another added: "We loved this series. There have been a million WW2 movies and series but they came from a perspective I have never seen before. Only thing I didn't like was it was only 4 episodes."
According to Metro, the series achieved an 81% positive audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, contrasting with a 28% critics score. The production conducted a global casting search specifically for blind and low-vision actors, with director Shawn Levy noting hundreds of self-tape auditions submitted from laptops and phones.
All The Light We Cannot See is available to stream on Netflix.
Sources used: "Mirror", "Metro", "Manchester Evening News" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
