Tied with Mar Adentro (2004) for the best film on disabilities ever made. Definitely on my list of the top ten films made this century!
A hidden gem that is by no means an easy watch, but certainly worth the short running time. And it shouldn't be an easy watch, given that we are watching this from the viewing of a blind man paralyzed from the waist down. We should be counting our blessings, as the director has allowed us to see colors, and vague shapes. What we see is blurry figures, other times we get to see clear titles and scenery; as opposed to our protagonist's true fate, black nothing.
Although there are many moments of comedy as well as grace, the disorienting sounds, very deliberate mise en scène, and confusticating cinematography make for quite the unpleasant viewing experience. Add to this the emotional difficulty of watching this brave man fight for something so simple and beautiful as a visit to the girlfriend he has yet to meet in real life, and you have the recipe for some heartwrenching tears. At the climax of the film, talk about anyone's worst nightmare! Aspects of this film would categorize this as horror; more frightening than any slasher film out there. Give me Freddy Krueger or Hannibal Lector any day over being so utterly mentally and physically trapped in such indeterminate circumstances! Kudos to the director for the courage to tackle disability from such an innovative, intimate viewpoint.
A unique vision from an underappreciated director (Teemu Nikki), carried to its full potential by an impressive actor that is both blind and paralyzed from multiple sclerosis in real life (Petri Poikolainen)!
A hidden gem that is by no means an easy watch, but certainly worth the short running time. And it shouldn't be an easy watch, given that we are watching this from the viewing of a blind man paralyzed from the waist down. We should be counting our blessings, as the director has allowed us to see colors, and vague shapes. What we see is blurry figures, other times we get to see clear titles and scenery; as opposed to our protagonist's true fate, black nothing.
Although there are many moments of comedy as well as grace, the disorienting sounds, very deliberate mise en scène, and confusticating cinematography make for quite the unpleasant viewing experience. Add to this the emotional difficulty of watching this brave man fight for something so simple and beautiful as a visit to the girlfriend he has yet to meet in real life, and you have the recipe for some heartwrenching tears. At the climax of the film, talk about anyone's worst nightmare! Aspects of this film would categorize this as horror; more frightening than any slasher film out there. Give me Freddy Krueger or Hannibal Lector any day over being so utterly mentally and physically trapped in such indeterminate circumstances! Kudos to the director for the courage to tackle disability from such an innovative, intimate viewpoint.
A unique vision from an underappreciated director (Teemu Nikki), carried to its full potential by an impressive actor that is both blind and paralyzed from multiple sclerosis in real life (Petri Poikolainen)!