Chasing Light follows two 16-year-old girls, Adeline Bennet and Juniper ‘June’ Winslow, during one summer evening. The girls bike around their town. Adeline is looking for “the perfect photo” before the sun sets, while June focuses on living in the moment and having fun. Adeline is observant and reflective. She finds comfort in documenting the world around her. She believes capturing moments helps preserve them. She worries that if she isn’t paying close attention, she’ll miss something important. June, in contrast, fully embraces the present. Playful and spontaneous, she encourages Adeline to relax and experience life as it happens, even as she hides her own worries about the future. Their journey starts on a quiet neighborhood street as they head to a small park, where June pulls Adeline towards a swingset. From there, they race through city streets, weaving past storefronts and empty sidewalks as the golden hour begins to fade. Their laughter and quiet moments show the strength of their bond and hint at something deeper. When the girls reach a secluded lakeshore, the energy slows. The setting sun prompts a conversation about growing up, time, and the pressure to figure life out at a young age. June shares her fear of rushing through life without truly experiencing it. Adeline reveals her fear of forgetting moments altogether. Their different approaches show that both girls are facing the same uncertainty, just in different ways. As the last of the light fades, Adeline tries to take one final photograph, only to realize she has missed it. Instead of feeling disappointed, she experiences a sense of peace. By turning off her camera, Adeline allows herself to simply be present. She accepts that not every moment needs to be captured to be meaningful. The film concludes on the same neighborhood street where it began, now darker and quieter. Adeline asks June to promise that no matter where life takes them, they will never stop “chasing light.” Not with a camera, but by seeking moments that make them feel alive. With a pinky promise sealed, they ride off together into the growing darkness, leaving the day behind and stepping into whatever comes next.
