It is based on a New York Best Seller from 2014(Image: Netflix)
TV fans are sure to shed a tear or at the very least be moved by this war drama, based on a famous American novel – and better that, it makes for the perfect binge-watch with just four episodes.
This miniseries is based on the beloved war novel which received critical acclaim and became a New York Times Best Seller. Close to ten years later, it was adapted for the screen and viewers have plenty to say about it.
Originally published in 2014, this wartime tale, written by Anthony Doerr, quickly won over readers as they followed two teenagers whose paths cross under extraordinary circumstances during the Second World War.
All the Light We Cannot See has since become a firm favourite amongst readers as a novel that alternates between the viewpoints of two people on opposing sides of the conflict. At its core lies a profound sense of hope and humanity, which readers could only wish would translate successfully to its screen version.
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One of the leading characters is blind (Image: Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix)
The book was inspired by a 2004 train ride the writer took, when he watched a passenger become frustrated after a phone call cut out. It made Dierr think about the ‘miracle’ of long-distance communication and left him wanting to create a story that showed these miracles working at hand.
In 2023, the book was brought to screen and reimagined as a miniseries, with the same title, for Netflix. The programme features Aria Mia Loberti, Louis Hofmann, Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie in a “beautiful” four-part series.
After viewing it, one audience member posted on the review site IMDb, claiming it was “an exquisite and moving production”.
They wrote: “I watched this series in one evening after coming across it on Netflix and it did not disappoint. It left me speechless. The casting and acting is phenomenal. I had not read the book prior to watching this serious, but thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.”
The series chronicles the intertwining stories of a blind French girl named Marie-Laure and a young German soldier called Werner. Their lives collide in Nazi-occupied France during the war, where Werner, having been forcibly conscripted into the Nazi ranks as a teenager, is assigned to assist with radio repairs to support their communications network.
The series was released in 2023(Image: Netflix)
Meanwhile, Marie-Laure is accompanying her father as he flees Paris, carrying a priceless and coveted diamond to keep it out of Nazi hands. This makes her the prime target of a merciless SS officer hell-bent on seizing the precious gem, leaving Werner torn between protecting her or remaining loyal to his brutal allegiance.
For devoted fans of the book, many tuned in with a degree of trepidation, desperately hoping the adaptation would do justice to the story they hold so dear. One viewer found themselves pleasantly surprised.
They wrote on IMDb: “This was fantastic . I am a huge fan of the book – read it several times . This was a great ADAPTATION- here is the key. It is not exactly the same – it’s not meant to be . The essence of the book was here, it felt true to the original to me.”
Another review praised the cast of the series, writing: “I think I’m glad I did not read the book, because what I watched was nothing short of wonderful in every “facet”. Mark Ruffalo and the sparsely seen Hugh Laurie were fantastic, but still a notch or two below the magnificent Aria Mia Loberti in her premier performance.”
While not everybody feels the show matches up to the novel’s success, it has faced some backlash for failing to remain faithful to the source material. Others beg to differ, however, and many viewers yet to pick up the book have found plenty to enjoy in the series.
One viewer said: “I’m so thankful I watched this before I saw the critics’ reviews. What a beautiful, emotional & intense miniseries. I really enjoyed it very much.”
All the Light We Cannot See has all four episodes available now to stream exclusively on Netflix.
