Black Sun (2005)

Director:

Gary Tarn

Writers:

Hugues de Montalembert (narration)
Hugues de Montalembert (story)

Release Date:

5 May 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Blindness

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Hugues de Montalembert	...	Himself
Lindsey Pehrson	...	Girl on Street

Directed by
Gary Tarn

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Hugues de Montalembert		narration
Hugues de Montalembert		story

Produced by
John Battsek	....	producer
Alfonso Cuarón	....	executive producer
Nick Fraser	....	executive producer: BBC
Julie Goldman	....	co-executive producer
Krysanne Katsoolis	....	co-executive producer
Andrew Ruhemann	....	executive producer
Caroline Stevens	....	co-executive producer
Nicole Stott	....	associate producer
Frida Torresblanco	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Gary Tarn

Cinematography by
Gary Tarn

Film Editing by
Gary Tarn

Production Design by
Gary Tarn

Sound Department
Nigel Squibbs	....	sound editor
Gary Tarn	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Gary J. Brown	....	digital effects artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Luke Eder	....	additional camera operator

Animation Department
Belinda Blacklock	....	animation producer

Editorial Department
Jonathan Liebert	....	digital cinema mastering
Tim Waller	....	senior colorist

Music Department
Alex Nikolic	....	music video

Other crew
Alex Nikolic	....	media producer

Production Companies

• Passion Pictures
• Cactus Three (in association with)

Distributors

• Second Run (2007) (UK) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Munky

Other Companies

• Molinare Studio  post-production facilities
• Studios  media production

Also Known As:

Runtime:

Canada:75 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:PG

Company:

Passion Pictures

Stunning visuals in documentary about painter gone blind

I saw this movie at the 2006 International Film Festival of Rotterdam. The director was present at the screening for a Q&A.

Painter Hugues de Montalembert lost his eyesight when he became the victim of a tragic crime. He managed to pick up life in a remarkable way. He became pretty independent and traveled to Asia and Europe. He wrote his first book during a stay in Indonesia.

This is a documentary with a strong visual signature. The director supports Montalembert's narrative with vivid colorful images. As a spectator you, may often get the feeling that you are seeing through the subject's eyes (Montalembert is blind indeed, but still has a very visual way of experiencing the world, as we learn). Montalembert's hands are briefly visible during a scene where he tells a funny anecdote about loosing 14 written pages from his manuscript, Other than that, he is only present by voice and narrative. All of this works very well, I think.

The director was originally a composer, here debuting with his first feature. Not surprisingly, the music is also a strong ingredient in the mix.

As someone who has a background as a visual artist, I was fascinated by the well composed real story. Montalembert's experience of a very perceptive person becoming blind is quite valuable to become a part of. It's a good thing that this is not some depressed story about a man with a handicap. Quite on the contrary, Montalembert's life tale is often moving, but there are also quite a number of laughs.

Recommended if you are interested in the subject and if you appreciate a visually spectacular cinematic experience. 8/10