Light of My Life Parent Guide

“Dad” (Casey Affleck) and his wife, “Mom” (Elisabeth Moss), expect to enjoy a long life together with their newborn daughter, Ann (Anna Pniowsky), who they call Raggedy Anne, or Rag for short. That expectation is dashed when a plague breaks out that only affects women - the world population is halved as women begin dying en masse, including Mom. Ann, however, seems to be immune. Her only hope of survival in the new society is to pretend to be a boy, something Dad will have to help her with…

While this film has no sexual content, the unspoken threat of rape lingers over every scene like a vulture. The men (other than Dad) are typically threatening figures- tall, dark, mysterious, and dangerous. Only a few make any attempt to take Rag, but the audience’s knowledge of what will happen if they succeed is enough to make the movie almost unbearably tense.

This is probably a much scarier movie for women to watch than for me. I’m very aware of the inherent dangers in being a woman, but that doesn’t mean I have any of the memories or experiences women do with predatory men. This also isn’t a great movie to watch if you’re a nervous parent, since the idea of having to protect your child against such horrific consequences is enough to make you break out in a cold sweat.

If parents can manage to detach themselves from the constant anxiety inherent in the story, Light of My Life is a beautiful film to watch. Shot in the Okanagan Valley of Canada’s British Columbia province, the landscapes and environment practically serve as an additional character - one divided between the safety of the close, dark forest and the hazards of open fields and snow-covered mountains. The dialogue also feels intimately real and natural - you won’t find any prepared speeches out of a can here. Just concerned father and worried daughter, trying to navigate a difficult life in a harsh world, with all the stammering and awkward phrasing that comes with it.

The biggest mystery of this film is how it got an “R” rating from the MPAA. With one possible profanity, no sexual content, and much less violence than you’d see in a PG-13 action flick like Hobbs & Shaw, I’m at a loss to explain a “Restricted” label. Admittedly, the content is intense and dark, but that alone doesn’t merit such a strong rating. I think the film would be better suited to a PG-13 classification, with an advisory about the thematic nature of the film.

If you can stand the apprehension and the worry, this is definitely a movie worth watching. While it doesn’t always succeed in supplying answers, it asks a lot of important questions. The acting is excellent, and the writing serves the tension inherent in the subject matter and the tight screenplay. Bear in mind: Light of My Life is more than a little dark. You’ve just got to look for the bright spots in between.