Jesse McLean, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres, was recently featured in The Guardian for her experimental documentary Light Needs, which examines relationships between humans and their houseplants.
In a review by Leslie Felperin, The Guardian praises McLean’s precise and thoughtful approach, describing aspects of the film as “luminous” and “immaculate.” Felperin highlights McLean’s ability to weave sound and image into what she calls an “audiovisual collage of perspectives on plant-people relations,” noting the film’s gentle balance of “wonder and wit.” The review emphasizes how Light Needs gives equal consideration to human participants and plant life, allowing multiple viewpoints to coexist without hierarchy. To read the full review by Felperin, visit The Guardian.
Light Needs was also reviewed by Gazettely, which notes the film’s contemplative pacing and sustained attention to stillness and everyday domestic spaces. The review by Naser Nahandian highlights McLean’s use of careful observation to reframe human–plant relationships, calling the film “visually arresting” and “a poetic reminder of our interdependence with the natural world.” To read the full review by Nahandian, visit Gazettely.
Light Needs is available to stream on the True Story platform, where you can watch the trailer with no login required.