Blindness (2008)

A city is ravaged by an epidemic of instant white blindness.

Director:

Fernando Meirelles

Writers:

José Saramago (novel), Don McKellar (screenplay)

Stars:

Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Gael García Bernal

15 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Yûsuke Iseya	...	First Blind Man
Jason Bermingham	...	Driver #1
Eduardo Semerjian	...	Concerned Pedestrian #1
Don McKellar	...	Thief
Ciça Meirelles	...	Driver #2
Antônio Fragoso	...	Concerned Pedestrian #2
Lilian Blanc	...	Concerned Pedestrian #3
Douglas Silva	...	Onlooker #1
Daniel Zettel	...	Onlooker #2
Yoshino Kimura	...	First Blind Man's Wife
Joe Pingue	...	Taxi Driver
Susan Coyne	...	Receptionist
Fabiana Gugli	...	Mother of the Boy
Mitchell Nye	...	Boy
Danny Glover	...	Man with Black Eye Patch

Storyline

A city is ravaged by an epidemic of instant "white blindness". Those first afflicted are quarantined by the authorities in an abandoned mental hospital where the newly created "society of the blind" quickly breaks down. Criminals and the physically powerful prey upon the weak, hoarding the meager food rations and committing horrific acts. There is, however, one eyewitness to the nightmare. A woman whose sight is unaffected by the plague follows her afflicted husband to quarantine. There, keeping her sight a secret, she guides seven strangers who have become, in essence, a family. She leads them out of quarantine and onto the ravaged streets of the city, which has seen all vestiges of civilization crumble.

---

Plot Keywords:

blindness | hospital | quarantine | epidemic | pubic hair | 

---

Taglines:

You'll never see it coming

---

Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence including sexual assaults, language and sexuality/nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Ensaio Official site [Brazil] Miramax [United States]

Country:

Canada Brazil Japan

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

3 October 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ceguera

Filming Locations:

Minhocão, Via Elevada Presidente João Goulart

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

BRL 1,223,734 (Brazil), 14 September 2008, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,950,260, 3 October 2008, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$3,073,392, 12 October 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rhombus Media,O2 Filmes,Bee Vine Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the film, the bartender (Gael García Bernal) calls himself King of Ward 3. Bernal previously played the title role in The King (2005).

---

Goofs

The pistol used in the movie appears to be a snub-nosed revolver, typically holding between 5 to 10 bullets. The number of rounds fired off without any indication of reloading is closer to 15 throughout the "Ward 3" standoff.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
First Blind Man: I'm blind.

---

Connections

Referenced in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Episode #7.141 (2009)

---

Soundtracks

I Just Called to Say I Love You
Written by Stevie Wonder
Used by permission of Black Bull Music
All Rights Reserves
Performed by Gael García Bernal

User Reviews

A reality break from the rat-race -- society going blind.

This one gets a 10 out of 10. The very title and premise of this movie was intriguing to me. While we are caught up in the rat race. Wondering how to pay the bills, make the next dollar, worrying about recession, etc... what happens if we all suddenly just go blind. It is true that some of the most basic things that we take for granted that we should be thankful for -- gets lost in a rat-race called life. I knew I would enjoy the very premise of this movie as it shows that depth of how a first world country can go if one of the most basic gifts of sight were deprived. It wouldn't take a very long time for things to become anarchic.

I've been reading through all the comments because I didn't want to say something that wasn't said before. However, I want to defend this movie against some criticisms.

First of all, people are saying that Julian Moore's character waited a bit too late to use her weapon or do something. I think that this actually makes the movie more realistic and is a strength. A character that has never killed before, and is killing for the first time has to be taken beyond a breaking-point in order to cross that boundary. This makes sense with me and I do not understand why people are criticizing this element.

Second complaint common is demanding of goods or valuables if the place is already quarantined. I defend this movie in this respect because I think that to be appreciated, you have to give it latitude by trying to connect with it's overall message, even if it may be metaphorical at the expense of realism. You cant take a movie like this too literal -- you simply have to understand what it is saying -- which is the downward spiral when the rules of society collapse -- and learning to be thankful for some of the things that get lost that's really important in the rat-race we are all called up in.

Thirdly, the complaints of the gore, violence, and rape -- it was rated a restricted movie -- you are viewing at your own risk.

This movie has touched me and I'm glad that I have rented. If for not anything else, but at least helping me to see life beyond the rat-race that we are all glued to and imagining what could happen if one of the most precious gifts that we are all blessed with -- that of vision -- were deprived of everyone for just a length of time what would happen.

THAT -- in itself has got me thinking. There is no higher rating than 10/10 -- so that's the best I can do. I feel happy that something woke me out of the rat-race and see the blue sky -- it was this movie.