Let There Be Light

Let There Be Light

Year: 2017

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Mila Aung-Thwin

Documentary

A team of dedicated scientists embarks on an ambitious project: creating an artificial sun on Earth. This groundbreaking endeavor aims to provide humanity with a limitless supply of clean, affordable energy, solving a problem that has plagued them for decades. After years of unsuccessful attempts, a renewed and significant effort is underway to finally achieve this revolutionary energy source.

Bittersweet
Bittersweet ending
Moderately emotional
Medium intensity
Steady pacing
Simple story

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Let There Be Light (2017)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Let There Be Light (2017). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 21st century

The events take place in the present-day United States, amid ongoing debates between science and belief. It includes a Christmas-season backdrop that emphasizes themes of light and renewal. The narrative spans intimate home life and global media attention, anchored by a real-world talk-show culture.

Location

Set in contemporary America, the story unfolds across a home, a church, and public spaces. Key locations include Sol Harkens' domestic life, Vinny's church, and the construction site where the crash occurs, along with media studios where his story goes public. The settings illustrate the collision of science, faith, and family within a media-driven society.

🎬 Modern setting ⛪ Church 🏠 Domestic life

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:01

Main Characters – Let There Be Light (2017)

Meet the key characters of Let There Be Light (2017), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Sol Harkens

An outspoken atheist doctor who becomes the center of a crisis of science versus faith after a near-death experience and visions of his late son. Initially skeptical, he confronts the possibility of belief when confronted by a pastor and the idea of resurrection. His journey moves from cynicism to renewed faith and a desire to rebuild his family.

🧠 Scientist 🤔 Conflicted 🕊️ Faith

Katy Harkens

Sol's Christian ex-wife who remains a steady moral anchor and a catalyst for his transformation. She checks on him after the crash, reconnects with their family, and faces the fragility of life as she battles cancer. Her death represents a painful cost of the journey toward unity and renewal.

💖 Family 🌟 Resilience

Vinny

Pastor Vinny, a former mob member turned preacher, guides Sol toward faith after recounting the resurrection story. He is a pragmatic, no-nonsense mentor who uses lived experience to challenge Sol's scientific rigidity. His church functions as a focal point for community, faith, and the unveiling of Sol's transformation.

⛪ Church 🕯️ Guidance

David Harkens

David Harkens is Sol's son who died from cancer years earlier, whose spirit appears in visions to comfort Sol and urge him toward light. The hallucinations reveal the enduring bond between father and child and act as a catalyst for Sol's faith journey. The presence of David adds a bittersweet dimension to the story's theme of life, death, and reconciliation.

👼 Son 💔 Grief

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:01

Major Themes – Let There Be Light (2017)

Explore the central themes of Let There Be Light (2017), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🙏 Faith

Faith emerges as Sol's catalyst and conflict, starting from skepticism and ending in a renewed belief. His near-death experience and visions challenge his rational stance and trigger a personal transformation. The theme explores how faith can offer solace, meaning, and a path back to family after tragedy. It poses questions about belief, doubt, and the possibility of redemption.

🌍 World Peace

Let There Be Light" becomes a planetary campaign where people unite in a single act of illumination. The idea imagines a symbolic global gesture—people shining lights toward the sky at night—capable of fostering unity. The plot ties this festival-like moment to media coverage and political discourse, highlighting how grand plans intersect with personal lives. It reflects the desire to find hope and solidarity in a fractured world.

💔 Loss

Katy's cancer diagnosis and eventual death punctuate the film, reminding Sol of the cost of time and the fragility of life. The tragedy tests Sol's newfound faith and his commitment to family. It grounds the spiritual journey in real grief, showing that redemption does not erase pain. The loss complicates the campaign for light, adding a human consequence to the story's hopeful message.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:01

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about spiritual awakening like Let There Be Light

Personal tragedies lead to profound spiritual transformations and new hope.If you liked the spiritual journey in Let There Be Light, explore other movies where characters find new meaning after personal tragedy. These films share a focus on grief, transformation, and bittersweet hope, offering similar emotional depth and contemplative pacing for viewers seeking profound character-driven stories.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically begin with a devastating event—such as a loss or a life-threatening accident—that shatters the protagonist's worldview. This crisis forces a period of introspection and vulnerability, leading to a gradual spiritual or emotional rebirth. The narrative arc is less about external action and more about an internal struggle between old beliefs and new-found faith or understanding, culminating in a reconciliation that is poignant yet hopeful.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared emotional core: a central theme of spiritual transformation arising from pain. They consistently balance the heavy weight of grief with the uplifting light of redemption, creating a uniquely bittersweet tone. The pacing is character-driven and steady, allowing the emotional and philosophical journey to unfold with resonance.

Faith vs science drama movies like Let There Be Light

Intimate stories exploring the tension between rational thought and spiritual belief.Discover films similar to Let There Be Light that delve into the compelling conflict between faith and science. These movies feature personal stories where intellectual certainty is challenged by emotional experiences, perfect for viewers who appreciate thoughtful, character-focused dramas with deep philosophical undertones.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist, often grounded in logic or science, facing an event that defies their rational understanding. This catalyst—be it a miracle, a personal tragedy, or a profound connection—initiates a internal conflict. The story unfolds as a quiet, steady exploration of this dilemma, focusing on dialogue, internal reflection, and relational dynamics rather than action, leading to a nuanced resolution that acknowledges the validity of both perspectives.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their central thematic conflict between empirical evidence and spiritual faith. They share a similar mood of deep contemplation, a steady pacing that allows for philosophical exploration, and a medium emotional intensity that comes from witnessing a fundamental worldview shift. The experience is intellectually and emotionally engaging without being overly complex.

Unlock the Full Story of Let There Be Light

Don't stop at just watching — explore Let There Be Light in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Let There Be Light is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Let There Be Light Summary

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Let There Be Light Summary

Let There Be Light Timeline

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Let There Be Light Timeline

Let There Be Light Spoiler-Free Summary

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Let There Be Light Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Let There Be Light

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