Light of My Life

Set in a world ravaged by a pandemic that killed half the population, Light of My Life follows a father and his daughter as they move along the edges of civilization. He tries to shield his child from danger and from a world that has grown suspicious and harsh. The two share a fragile, careful bond as scarcity, fear, and moral choices press in from every side. With only a handful of allies and a quiet, determined resolve, they navigate a landscape of abandoned towns, wary strangers, and the constant risk of exposure. The film centers on what a parent will do to keep a child safe. In their quiet resilience, they reflect broader questions about what humanity means today.

Directed by Casey Affleck, Light of My Life is an original screenplay rather than an adaptation. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2019, signaling a restrained approach to science fiction and family drama, with a visual style.

Box office figures for this limited release are modest and not widely reported, reflecting a small scale release rather than mass distribution. Its audience tended to be festival goers and cinephiles who value character focused storytelling over big spectacle often.

Despite the quiet, intimate tone, Light of My Life did not rack up major awards during its festival run. Critics praised the performances and mood, though the movie remained outside the season's big award conversations. Some viewers noted the film's restraint as a strength in a crowded field among critics.

Critics highlighted the film's restrained storytelling and focus on moral questions around parental protection and the ethics of survival after collapse. The father daughter relationship, the practical improvisations of daily life, and the film's sparse dialogue create a quiet meditation on hope, responsibility, and trust, and leaves space for interpretation.