Land of the Blind (2006)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Robert Edwards

Writer (WGA):

Robert Edwards (written by)

Release Date:

5 December 2007 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A soldier recounts his relationship with a famous political prisoner attempting to overthrow their country's authoritarian government.

Cast

Ralph Fiennes	...	Joe
Donald Sutherland	...	Thorne
Tom Hollander	...	Maximilian II
Lara Flynn Boyle	...	First Lady
Marc Warren	...	Pool
Ron Cook	...	Doc
Robert Daws	...	Jones
Laura Fraser	...	Madeleine
Jonathan Hyde	...	Smith
Camilla Rutherford	...	Tania
Don Warrington	...	First Sergeant
Miranda Raison	...	Daisy
Nigel Whitmey	...	Anchorman
Leigh Zimmerman	...	Anchorwoman
Mackenzie Crook	...	Editor
Cory McAbee	...	Mister Salty
Matthew Marsh	...	Papa Max
Max Harvey	...	Butler
George Potts	...	Fat Comedian
Dominic Coleman	...	Skinny Comedian
Robert Jezek	...	Room 12 Official
Mark Dymond	...	Sen. Roger 'Jolly' Lyme
Dan Fredenburgh	...	Rep. Johnny Boy Barth
Michael Smiley	...	Thorne's Lieutenant
Harry Eden	...	12-Year Old Guard
Alan Westaway	...	Hostage
Nitin Ganatra	...	Prison Official (as Nitin Gonatra)
Philippe Smolikowski	...	Judge
John Sharian	...	Guy in Strip Club
Bruce Wong	...	Official
Michael De Nola	...	'Out for Vengeance' Gangster (as Michael DeNola)
Ian Chorao	...	'Out for Vengeance' Cop
Vanessa De Nola	...	'Out for Vengeance' Female Hostage (as Vanessa Kuhn-DeNola)
Leo Potter	...	Young Junior
Enoch Frost	...	Re-education Camp Guard
Tim Plester	...	Re-education Camp Prisoner
Avin Shah	...	Rew-education Camp Prisoner
Daniel Hubbard	...	Re-education Camp Prisoner
Henry Breitrose	...	Professor Morales
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jonathan Emmett	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
Joey Jeetun	...	Thorne's Aid (uncredited)
Dean Knowsley	...	Execution Soldier (uncredited)
Jodhi May	...	Joe's Mother (uncredited)
Philip Rosch	...	Joe's Mother's Man (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Edwards

Writing credits (WGA)
Robert Edwards		(written by)

Produced by
Mohammed Ahmed	....	executive producer
Burdette Anderson	....	post-production producer
Jon Avnet	....	producer
Karinne Behr	....	executive producer
Sheikh Mohamed Bin Salman	....	executive producer (as Shiek Mohammed Bin Salman Al Khalifa)
Alex Brown	....	co-producer
Cerise Hallam Larkin	....	producer
Alan Latham	....	producer
Philippe Martinez	....	producer
Douglas W. Miller	....	executive producer
Marsha Oglesby	....	executive producer
Ferne Pearlstein	....	associate producer
Richard Rionda Del Castro	....	co-producer
Stanley Roup	....	producer
Hugh Spurling	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Guy Farley

Cinematography by
Emmanuel Kadosh		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ferne Pearlstein

Casting by
Daniel Hubbard

Production Design by
Mark Larkin

Art Direction by
Mike Stallion

Set Decoration by
Judy Farr		(as Jude Farr)

Costume Design by
Phoebe De Gaye		(as Phoebe DeGaye)

Makeup Department
Barrie Gower	....	prosthetic makeup artist
Manuela Grosu	....	hair stylist: Mr. Sutherland
Susan Howard	....	makeup artist (as Sue Howard)
Loulia Sheppard	....	hair stylist
Anne Spiers	....	hair designer
Anne Spiers	....	makeup designer
Edwina Voda	....	makeup artist: Mr. Sutherland

Production Management
Burdette Anderson	....	post-production supervisor: Bauer Martinez Studios Inc.
Gisela Evert	....	post-production supervisor
Joan Schneider	....	unit production manager
Luke Walker	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jonny Benson	....	third assistant director
Toby Hosking	....	second assistant director
Ben Hughes	....	first assistant director
Ferne Pearlstein	....	second unit director

Art Department
Barry Arnold	....	dressing props
Simon Aronson	....	stand-by props assistant
Peter Bigg	....	dressing props
Anna Bregman	....	additional art director
Tom Brown	....	stand-by art director
Corina Burrough	....	production buyer
Graham Cole	....	stand-by carpenter
Gareth Cousins	....	additional art director
Clive D'Cruze	....	supervising stagehand
Gene D'Cruze	....	construction manager
Colin Ellis	....	additional dressing props
Anthony Hogan	....	stand-by stagehand
Robyn Larkin	....	graphic designer
Michael Law	....	carpenter (as Micky Law)
Terry Law	....	carpenter
Danny Margetts	....	supervising carpenter
Francesca Mauri	....	stand-by props
Paul Purdy	....	property master
Henry Armand Smith	....	art department assistant
Brian Stagg	....	chargehand carpenter

Sound Department
Simon Brown	....	boom operator
Simon Brown	....	sound maintenance
Patrick Dodd	....	adr editor
Patrick Dodd	....	dialogue editor
Patrick Dodd	....	sound designer
Richard Fleming	....	sound recordist: 'Out for Vengeance' unit
Samir Foco	....	adr recordist
Samir Foco	....	foley recordist
Hugh Johnson	....	dubbing mixer
Srdjan Kurpjel	....	sound effects editor
Melissa Lake	....	foley walker
Derek Norman	....	sound mixer
Pietro Paletti	....	foley editor
Jack Stew	....	foley walker
Vanesa Lorena Tate	....	sound assistant (as Vanesa Tate)
Melanie Walters	....	sound assistant
Mustafa Durma	....	foley editor (uncredited)
Tirso Guinon	....	dubbing assistant (uncredited)
Danton Tanimura	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Burak Topalakci	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Neal Champion	....	special effects supervisor
Edward Smith	....	special effects floor supervisor (as Ed Smith)
Bernard Newton	....	special effects (uncredited)
Rob Tucker	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Ted Griffis	....	special digital effects
Richard Hart	....	visual effects producer: Molinare Studio
Caroline Hewson	....	visual effects coordinator: Molinare Studio
Simon Kilroe	....	lead compositor: Molinare Studio
Søren Kloch	....	digital film supervisor: Molinare Studio (as Soren Kloch)
Simon Percy	....	visual effects: Molinare Studio
Jola Piesakowska	....	visual effects supervisor: Molinare Studio
Anthony Webb	....	compositor: Molinare Studio
Lara Zoe Northway	....	digital intermediate assistant (uncredited)

Stunts
Tom Aitken	....	stunts
David Anders	....	stunts
Gabe Cronnelly	....	stunts
Levan Doran	....	stunts
Vince Kean	....	stunt coordinator
Derek Lea	....	stunts
Peter Miles	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
F.P. Bjornlundsen	....	director of photography: 'Out for Vengeance' unit
Pete Cavaciuti	....	Steadicam operator (as Peter Cavaciuti)
Asaf Ezer	....	video assist operator
James Foster	....	clapper loader: second unit
Nimi Getter	....	gaffer (as Nimrod Getter)
Alan Hall	....	clapper loader
Graham Hall	....	focus puller
Benjamin Kerr	....	electrician
Dan Lowe	....	best boy
Ian Mulcahy	....	electrician
Ferne Pearlstein	....	cinematographer: second unit
Barney Piercy	....	focus puller: second unit
Nick Ray	....	grip
Adrian Roup	....	camera operator: electronic press kit
Ross Sheppard	....	camera trainee
James Smith-Pryor	....	electrician
Ricky Stelling	....	rigger
Mike Valentine	....	camera operator: underwater
Nick Wall	....	still photographer
Matt Wilson	....	additional electrician
Darrell Woods	....	trainee grip

Animation Department
Gus D'Angelo	....	animator: Quickie Cartoons, Torture Cartoon sequence
Vinnie D'Angelo	....	animator: Quickie Cartoons, Torture Cartoon sequence

Casting Department
Kelly Valentine Hendry	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alan Birkett	....	costume supervisor (as Allan Birkett)
Morgan Elliott	....	assistant costume designer
Vidya Krishnamurthy	....	wardrobe stand-by
Christine Mayrhofer	....	costume trainee
Luan Placks	....	costume design assistant
Richard Sale	....	additional costume assistant

Editorial Department
Christopher Robin Bell	....	additional editor (as Christopher R. Bell)
Kate Coggins	....	assistant editor
Andrew Dearnley	....	digital film operator: Molinare Studio
Joss Flores	....	baselight assistant: Molinare Studio
Tom Kinnersly	....	second assistant editor
Fiona Mackay	....	post-production assistant
Connan McStay	....	digital intermediate editor: Molinare Studio
Walter Slater Murch	....	assistant editor
Gareth Parry	....	senior digital intermediate editor: Molinare Studio
Sara Pellegrini	....	second assistant editor
Peter J. Price	....	second assistant editor
Nic Smith	....	film scanning operator: Molinare Studio
Tim Waller	....	colorist: Molinare Studio
Jonathan You	....	baselight assistant: Molinare Studio
Travis Dutch	....	tape-to-tape colorist (uncredited)
Brett Greenberg	....	post-production intern (uncredited)
Kristian Whitlock	....	digital intermediate on-line assistant editor (uncredited)
Mark Wright	....	negative cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
Mark David	....	musician: trumpet
Guy Farley	....	conductor
Guy Farley	....	music producer
Ben Georgiades	....	music mixer: Sphere Studios
Ben Georgiades	....	music score recordist: Abbey Road
Janice Graham	....	musician: lead and solo violin
Phil Hope	....	additional music supervisor
Tom Hough	....	assistant score recording engineer
Will Johnstone	....	programmer: ProTools
Alistair Mackie	....	musician: trumpet
Scrap Marshall	....	assistant score recording engineer
John Parricelli	....	musician: guitar
Andrew Pearce	....	orchestrator
Gary Spolding	....	music preparation
Adrian Thomas	....	musical associate
Paul Watkins	....	musician: solo cello
Tom Webster	....	score mixing assistant
Simon White	....	music supervisor
Mikael Carlsson	....	executive soundtrack producer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Malcolm Cooper	....	driver: facilities
Lawrence Duncan	....	driver: facilities
Arif Erbos	....	additional unit driver
Colin Giffin	....	unit driver
David Grose	....	transportation coordinator
Rob Hempenstall	....	unit driver (as Robert Hempenstall)
Peter Herst	....	additional unit driver (as Peter C. Herst)
Wade Hinkley	....	driver: facilities
Matt Hollyfield	....	driver: facilities
Nick Jewell	....	driver: facilities
Darren Leen	....	additional unit driver
Steve Michard	....	unit driver (as Steve Mitchard)
Enyo Mortty	....	unit driver
Guy Bostock	....	vehicles coordinator (uncredited)
Ian Clarke	....	vehicle technician (uncredited)
Sean Thornton	....	picture vehicle technician (uncredited)

Other crew
Helen Allibone	....	additional floor runner
Kate Anderson	....	legal affairs: Templar Productions
Martin J. Barab	....	legal services
Justin Bennett	....	clearance
Shirley Bester	....	production executive: Bauer Martinez Studios Inc.
Ron Bird	....	location security
Stephen Burgoyne	....	office manager: Lucky 7 Productions
Ian Burlingham	....	legal services: Ian Burlingham Solicitors
Gavin Charlton	....	caterer
James Cope	....	cashier
Sarah Culliver	....	assistant: Ms. Flynn Boyle
Roy Cummins	....	location security
Farnaz Donovan	....	assistant accountant
Fabien Dufour	....	work experience
Katja Esson	....	assistant: 'Out for Vengeance' unit
Kreepa Gohil	....	assistant coordinator (as Kreepa Gohill)
Nicola Gregory	....	unit nurse
Fiona Harper	....	assistant to producers
Harriet Howe	....	stand-in: Ms. Flynn Boyle
Will Hutchinson	....	legal services
Jason Jalloul	....	stand-in: Mr. Hollander
Helga Lavin	....	legal assistant: Lucky 7 Productions
Helene Lenszner	....	location manager
Gabby Le Rasle	....	production coordinator (as Gabrielle La Rasle)
Duncan Manning	....	head caterer
Tobi Mathews	....	legal services: Lovell Jacksom Mathews
Amy McCombe	....	assistant location manager
Michaela Miesen	....	production secretary
Paul Mindel	....	stand-in: Mr. Finnes
Stephen Naulls	....	production accountant
Natalie Payne	....	caterer
Victoria Piller-Carson	....	financial controller
Kevin Proctor	....	production runner
Holly Pullinger	....	assistant: Mr. Sutherland
Kenn Rabin	....	archival researcher (as Kenneth Rabin)
Charlie Reed	....	stand-in: Mr. Sutherland (as Charles Reed)
Joy Schoenborn	....	financial controller: Templar Productions
Sylvia Sichel	....	assistant: 'Out for Vengeance' unit
Barney Smith	....	caterer
Trevor Speed	....	rushes runner
Claudine Strasser	....	script supervisor
Elizabeth Usher	....	floor runner
Adrienne Weiss	....	script consultant
David Wilcock	....	trainee assistant accountant
Julia Wilson Dickson	....	voice coach
Jack Yiokoumi	....	caterer
Kevin Chalk	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)
Scott Hamshere	....	armorer (uncredited)
Demetri Jagger	....	location projectionist: dailies (uncredited)
Kelly Messias	....	assistant: Mr. Fiennes (uncredited)

Thanks
Mem Ferda	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Avnet/Kerner Productions
• Bauer Martinez Studios
• Brooklyn Films
• Defender Production
• Lucky 7 Productions LLC
• Studio Eight Productions
• Templar Films

Distributors

• Bauer Martinez Studios (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Galileo Medien AG (2007) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Molinare Studio (visual effects)
• Quickie Cartoons (animation: Torture Cartoon sequence)

Other Companies

• Shepperton Studios  movie studio
• Abbey Road Studios  score recorded at (as Abbey Road)
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies
• Cool Music  music contractor
• Coutts & CO  bank
• Cutting Edge  music supervisors
• Cutting Edge Group  music services
• Cutting Edge  negative cutting
• Deluxe  laboratory
• Fatts  post-production continuity (as FATTS)
• Ian Burlingham  legal services
• Kodak  film stock
• Lovell Jackson Mathews  legal services
• Lucky Cutting Edge  music publisher: original music
• Mad Dog Casting  extras casting
• Media Services  stationery supplier
• Mobile Mouthful  catering
• Molinare Studio  video mastering
• MovieScore Media  soundtrack
• Near North Entertainment  insurance
• Panavision UK  camera equipment provided by
• RSVP  kazoos
• Runway  post-production
• Sargent Disc  payroll services
• Sontom Risk Finance Ltd.  completion guarantor
• Sphere Studios  music mixed at
• Videosonics Cinema Sound  sound mixing facility (as Videosonics)
• Zound  sound post-production

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and some sexual content/nudity.

Runtime:

USA:110 min (Cannes Film Festival)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:M18 | Italy:T

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Avnet/Kerner Productions

Trivia:

The movie contains several references to many real life revolutions and dictators: women wearing veils covering them from head to toe after the revolution (Iran), calling each other "citizen" (France); the gray uniform Thorne wears that resembles Stalin's (Russia) and Mao Zedong's (China); the First Lady's ludicrous wardrobe just like Ferdinand Marcos' wife (Phillipines) or dictatorial power being inherited from father to son (Haiti). Also, Thorne's beard looks similar to Marx's, and the "re-education" camp maybe a reference to Russian gulags.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Anchorwoman: So many fond memories of Maximilian the First on the tenth anniversary of our glorious leader's death.
Anchorman: Many of course doubted that his son and heir, Maximilian II, could live up to the example of his charismatic father. But the man affectionately called Junior has valiantly continued against the pesky rebellion, led by the playwright turned terrorist, John Thorne.
Anchorwoman: Once derided as the playboy Prince more interested in the movie business, the President-for-life announced today that he would not rest until he has rid the country of these criminals whom he called, quote, "Really bad guys". In a gesture of goodwill to the commemorate his father's memory, the President today also commuted the sentences of several men condemned to the gallows today, sending them to the guillotine instead.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Planet of the Apes (1968)

Soundtrack:

Beautiful Hat

A quiet sigh about the state of the world

An unnamed country is ruled by a horny birdbrained tyrant, while the intellectual revolutionary Thorne, hero of the resistance, is tortured in an inhuman prison. When the enduring riots threaten to get out of control, the government is forced to release Thorne. With the help of Joe, the Winston Smith or Bernhard Marx of the story, Thorne brings down the despotic government and takes over control. However, the hope for freedom and a better world doesn't last long...

In the official program of the Film Festival in Munich, LAND OF THE BLIND was announced as "a satiric political drama about terrorism, revolution, and the power of memory". In fact, the film story is rather conventional. After the outlines of the story become clear, the further development is rather obvious. However, for several reasons the movie is still very much worth seeing.

The first reason is the performance by Ralph Fiennes. He was willing to take part in the non-lucrative project even though he had to wait three years until the money was raised. His presence adds a breath of magic to the movie.

Another reason rare the numerous cinematographic and intermedial allusions (Kubrick, Lucas) that give you the satisfactory "aha" when you recognize some hint.

At last, it is the fable-like setting: neither time nor place are specified, and the hints like typewriters or Asiatic palaces are deliberately controversial. Together with the satiric elements, this aspect makes the film more entertaining and less pretentious.

The film is promoted by "Human Rights Watch", although Robert Edwards' intention was certainly not a clamant "call to arms", but rather a quiet sigh about the state of the world.