Blindness (2008)
Blindness (2008)
The first time I watched this next film, was about three years ago when an ex-girlfriend introduced it to me. Blindness released in 2008, is an amazing horror film about a global pandemic, that causes the infected to go blind, and only see a milky whiteness. Early on in the pandemic, when it is found that it is contagious, the government take the infected to a facility, where they are contained, but they are more like prisoners than patients, as there is no staff to clean, and take care of them. Thankfully the wife of an eye doctor who is infected, pretends that she infected so that she can stay with him, and she uses her sight to help care for the others, but is soon overwhelmed as the facility continues to fill, with not enough resources. The facility is split into wards, and soon an opportunist takes charge of ward 3 and his group takes all of the food, and forces the other wards to pay his for food rations, and when they run out of valuables, he demands their women. But ward 1 led by the doctor, his wife with sight, and some other other brave folks stands up and fights back. This is an amazing horror film that takes a look at the worst of human nature that comes out in times of catastrophe and disaster, but it also looks at the best that comes out too. There is the kindness, caring, and family aspect that takes over among members of ward 1, and then there is the opportunistic "me first", greedy aspect that we see in ward 3. These are the similar things that we saw in the pandemic of 2020, and in past pandemics. There are some people who hoard resources, and then use those resources as a form of power over others. Much like people who will buy up resources and then sell them to others at a steep mark-up, like in a disaster when you see a store selling bottles of water, toilet tissue, and other resources and very high costs. But there is also kindness and community support that rises up in disasters as well, and this film shows both of those things.
Blindness was directed by Fernando Meirelles, with a screenplay by Don McKellar (who also played a role in the film). The film is based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Portuguese author Jose Saramago. The film was shot in Sao Paulo and Osasco Brazil, Guelph Ontario Canada, and Montevideo Uruguay, which helps to give the film a sense of not being in a familiar city, but an anonymous large city without a name. The film also doesn't actually name any of the characters or give them any kind of back story, giving us only a glimpse into the now, rather than being set in a place or time, or with people that might seem familiar. Blindness was distributed by 20th Century Fox (Brazil), Alliance Films (Canada), GAGA USEN (Japan), Pathe (UK, France), and Miramax obtained the rights for US distribution. The film received mixed critical reception, and was even met with protests by the National Federation Of The Blind to which the author of the book responded "Stupidity doesn't choose between the blind and the non-blind", to how the reasoning of the protests completely misses the entire point of the book/film (which is not an argument I am going to take up, decide for yourself what you think). Though the film ranks upon many critics top films of 2008 lists, the film was a box office bomb grossing less than an estimated $20.1 million, with a budget of $25 million. The film also did poorly at film festivals, upon release. The film seemed very hard for many viewers, because of it's graphic depiction of the societal collapse in a time of a disaster, and yes the film is very uncomfortable at times, and we should be uncomfortable with the subject matter of the film. I personally think that this film works very effectively as a apocalyptic horror film, that delves into the devolution of humans in the time of disaster, but it also points to the hopefully nature of humanity to bond together to give love, support, and mutual need in times of disaster.
Blindness stars Julianne Moore as Doctor's Wife, Mark Ruffalo as Doctor, Alice Braga as Woman With Dark Glasses, Yusuke Iseya as First Blind Man, Yoshino Kimura as First Blind Man's Wife, Don McKellar as Thief, Danny Glover as Man With Black Eye Patch, Mitchell Nye as Boy, Gael Garcia Bernal as Bartender/King of Ward 3, and Maury Chaykin as Accountant (who is second in command to King of Ward 3). The film is very well cast, with an international cast of actors, that act to give us a microcosmic look at the world, rather than just one nation of people. The actors were all so perfectly chosen for their roles, Julianne Moore is so perfect at portraying the motherly character of the Doctor's Wife who takes it upon herself, with her privileged position of being able to see, to care for the others. I am really fond of Alice Braga's character of the Woman With Dark Glasses, rather than just playing her as a prostitute that she is as a profession in the beginning of the film before losing her sight, she is a sympathetic and caring character, and takes the boy under her wing, becoming a motherly figure for the boy. Danny Glover is amazing as a voice of calm and reason, who helps to calm people, he is an amazing actor and this film is no exception to that.
I think the film struggled with viewers in the box office, because I feel the allegorical aspect of the film was missed by many, and that the graphic nature of some of the scenes, especially the rape scenes were very hard for some people to handle. I think that if you can stick it out, that this is an absolutely amazing film, that takes a good hard look at humanity at both its best and its worst. I think the film is beautifully and artistically filmed, it is very well written, directed, and cast. I think it is unfortunate really that this film has been so vastly overlooked, because it is definitely a film that should be given another chance. If you haven't yet seen Blindness I highly recommend checking it out, it is a very effective disaster horror film that takes a good look at human nature. But I do warn you, that there are some rape scenes (though artistically shot) that might be hard for some to watch, but they do also show the barbarism of how bad humanity can get as seen from the gang in ward 3. Not a must see film by any means, but definitely one that I highly recommend checking out. If you ever come across a copy of Blindness, I highly suggest picking it up and giving it a chance. Great underrated film.
Blindness was directed by Fernando Meirelles, with a screenplay by Don McKellar (who also played a role in the film). The film is based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Portuguese author Jose Saramago. The film was shot in Sao Paulo and Osasco Brazil, Guelph Ontario Canada, and Montevideo Uruguay, which helps to give the film a sense of not being in a familiar city, but an anonymous large city without a name. The film also doesn't actually name any of the characters or give them any kind of back story, giving us only a glimpse into the now, rather than being set in a place or time, or with people that might seem familiar. Blindness was distributed by 20th Century Fox (Brazil), Alliance Films (Canada), GAGA USEN (Japan), Pathe (UK, France), and Miramax obtained the rights for US distribution. The film received mixed critical reception, and was even met with protests by the National Federation Of The Blind to which the author of the book responded "Stupidity doesn't choose between the blind and the non-blind", to how the reasoning of the protests completely misses the entire point of the book/film (which is not an argument I am going to take up, decide for yourself what you think). Though the film ranks upon many critics top films of 2008 lists, the film was a box office bomb grossing less than an estimated $20.1 million, with a budget of $25 million. The film also did poorly at film festivals, upon release. The film seemed very hard for many viewers, because of it's graphic depiction of the societal collapse in a time of a disaster, and yes the film is very uncomfortable at times, and we should be uncomfortable with the subject matter of the film. I personally think that this film works very effectively as a apocalyptic horror film, that delves into the devolution of humans in the time of disaster, but it also points to the hopefully nature of humanity to bond together to give love, support, and mutual need in times of disaster.
Blindness stars Julianne Moore as Doctor's Wife, Mark Ruffalo as Doctor, Alice Braga as Woman With Dark Glasses, Yusuke Iseya as First Blind Man, Yoshino Kimura as First Blind Man's Wife, Don McKellar as Thief, Danny Glover as Man With Black Eye Patch, Mitchell Nye as Boy, Gael Garcia Bernal as Bartender/King of Ward 3, and Maury Chaykin as Accountant (who is second in command to King of Ward 3). The film is very well cast, with an international cast of actors, that act to give us a microcosmic look at the world, rather than just one nation of people. The actors were all so perfectly chosen for their roles, Julianne Moore is so perfect at portraying the motherly character of the Doctor's Wife who takes it upon herself, with her privileged position of being able to see, to care for the others. I am really fond of Alice Braga's character of the Woman With Dark Glasses, rather than just playing her as a prostitute that she is as a profession in the beginning of the film before losing her sight, she is a sympathetic and caring character, and takes the boy under her wing, becoming a motherly figure for the boy. Danny Glover is amazing as a voice of calm and reason, who helps to calm people, he is an amazing actor and this film is no exception to that.
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