User Reviews

I remember this premiering at the Sundance Film Festival at the beginning of the year, it was there and at Berlin that it made a little splash. I remember looking on some reviews about this picture at the time and they were regarding it really highly, and i guess because of that the title stuck with me. Now nine months have gone by and little more about it was seen during these months, but my curiosity had yet to fade so i decided to take a look at this one.

Blind is Directed by Eskil Vogt and it stars Ellen Dorrit Petersen, Vera Vitali, Henrik Rafaelsen and Marius Kolbenstvedt.

I was hoping to get surprised going into this picture but i got to say that i did not anticipate Blind to be as good as it actually was. 2014 is building up to become the year of independent films. Last year we had our good share of indie features but this year, i feel as though the grand majority of the best pictures of the year so far, are indies. For now Blind stands aside pictures like Starred Up, A Most Wanted Man, The One I Love, Blue Ruin, Under the Skin among many others as the years best work.

Going in, i didn't even know this was directed by the same guy who collaborated with Joachim Trier, and made Oslo, 31. August which i absolutely hold as one of the best pictures made in the last decade or so. So Eskil Vogt had already proved in the past to be a talented young writer but this didn't exactly mean that he had the skills to pay the bills when it came to directing. Fortunately though, albeit I wasn't as moved as I was with the tour de force that is Oslo, 31. August, I will say that this is a far more ambitious and creative picture.

So the film starts with a blind woman narrating on how difficult or how easy it is to remember objects, first a tree, then dogs, then an apartment. It doesn't matter whether or not you remember it right, as long as you have a picture of what you remember. Our narrator whose name is Ingrid, let's her imagination fill in the blanks of her past and memories but also the blanks of what she can not see in the present. We learn that Ingrid is married and that she got blind after she married her husband Morten. Then from the middle of nowhere, Ingrid starts narrating the life's of other two people, it's weird because although she can't see her life and isn't sure about anything around, she seems to know everything about these two people. These two are Einar, a lonely man who may not ever have had sex but one things is clear, he hasn't been intimate with anyone as of late. He's a little bit of a creep as he masturbates five times a day and gets his kicks out of seeing woman in the streets. The other is Elin, just as lonely of a woman as Einar is of a man. She's a divorced single mother whose only company is her daughter.

Soon enough we realize that these two people are characters created by Ingrid, as she seems to be writing some sort of novel or screenplay around these two characters. These two characters though start to get mixed with reality as Ingrid's husband Morten rapidly starts appearing in these day dreams, in this stories that she's creating. It gets to a point where you start wondering how much of what you see is reality and how much is Ingrid's imagination. We are never too sure of what's real or not, are these people or just characters, or both. Is Ingrid's husband really cheating on her? Her day dreams and stories mirror the way the feels inside. She feels lonely, depressed, she's afraid of being a burden and she fears her husband's loyalty.

Everything comes into a very powerful and by the way beautifully constructed climax, that's super original, meaningful and witty. Ingrid ultimately destroys the fears that she has in the real world by crashing them in her dream and imaginations. Ultimately Ingrid faces her demons and problems through those day dreams and through the invented stories and because of that she's able to overcome the melancholic perspective of things and starts seeing things in a more hopeful way.

It's a case where Eskil has to be applauded by his magnificent complex and imaginative screenplay, plus the direction that completes the screenplay's vision with just as much aspiration and boldness. Eskil's screenplay is marvelous with the invention and vision of a master like Charlie Kaufman as the film often reminded me of Adaptation. Eskil shows here to be a talent to be reckoned with, not only with writer skills but he also knew out to put this piece together. The visions and reality become tangled, inter- connected beautifully, never leaving the audience hopelessly confused but rather intrigued and fascinated by it all.

The acting also helps, though no familiar faces are seen in the picture, all actors do deliver great performances. Ellen Dorrit Petersen is obviously the name that first comes to mind as the lead of the movie but really all the supporting cast that features Vera Vitali, Henrik Rafaelsen and Marius Kolbenstvedt are just as good.

Bilnd is a very, very nice surprise. Much better than what I could have expected. It combines the powerful performances with a weird but imaginative and super captivating story that translates into the screen beautifully through the hands of a writer/director that is surely extremely talented.

Rating:B+

This is a poetic and dreamy film.

I watched it several times and always love it. Then I realized the director used to study film in France, that's why this film has a taste of French.

The film is about a woman named Ingrid, who is losing her sight. She's getting more and more anxious since she feels things get out of control, she's even suspected her husband has affairs with other women. This relentless feeling makes her start to have a fantasy of how her husband cheating on her, there are a few characters in the movie which can't be told very clearly whether come from her imagination or from real life. There is a female character Elnar, who is flirting with her husband on the internet and dating with her husband. However she's soon getting miserable after she got pregnant after one night stand, she's lost her sight and chasing her lover in a very awkward way. Another male charter Morgen, is addicted to internet pornography. Can not get into a relationship in real life, observe Elnar like a creepy.

The film is quite dramatic and causes a lot of embarrassing scenes. The real scenes and the fantasy from Ingrid are entangled.

"Blind" has done very well with critics so far as well as on the film festival circuit--having won many awards including some very prestigious ones at Sundance. However, for the life of me, I am left with very little to say about this film. After all, critics love it and I am a critic...but I felt confused by the whole thing and have no idea what I saw. Additionally, I think most viewers will feel the same way and I cannot see who the audience is for this one other than film critics. Of course, I could be wrong and the film could end up becoming a huge hit...but I wouldn't bet on it.

Before I talk about what I thought of the film as well as the plot, I should point out right up front that the film has LOTS of material that many will find shocking. Clips of a wide variety of internet porn are included in the film--and some of it is pretty bizarre. Additionally, there is quite a bit of additional nudity in this one and the film has scenes of people masturbating as well as talking about it. If you are easily offended, you should avoid this film. If your mother or kids or Father Flannigan suggest you watch a movie together, for the love of God, do not watch this film! I am not saying this because I am prudish--but I also feel that an important part of reviewing films is providing this information so you can make an informed choice.

As far as the plot goes, I really cannot adequately explain it except that it's about a blind lady. So, I looked on the internet to try to see exactly what was happening in the film but none of it helped me very much. After a while, I realized that some of the characters and action isn't actually happening--it's imagined. So, understanding what is happening is tough--and the film made me feel very stupid. That almost never happens and I am pretty sure some sophisticated folks will write in to tell me how stupid I am for not understanding the movie. I grant you, I could just be completely missing the point of the plot...but I also wonder if there really IS a point and coherent plot to the film. Some might like this sort of thing. After all, "Tree of Life" was like this and yet is was Oscar-nominated for best picture. I didn't enjoy it in the least nor did anyone I know but many critics loved it...and again, I might just missing something...though I am supposed to be a critic.

The bottom line is that if you like cryptic films, you will probably enjoy "Blind". If, on the other hand, you're like most folks, I cannot see you picking this movie in the first place or sticking with it.

I would love to hear from those of you that did see the film-- whether you liked it or not. I'd love your opinions, impressions or an explanation of the plot. Sorry I cannot provide that...I was just left baffled and confused...which is odd since I am a reasonably well-educated guy who usually loves artsy films. In some ways, as I watched, I also felt blind...figuratively speaking.

I decided, out of curiosity, to watch this film when it was shown here in the UK late very last night.

Unfortunately, for me it was mostly a flop and I really wish I hadn't wasted 2 hours late at night / early in the morning when I could have been sleeping instead.

Although European movies can often be refreshing, and sometimes downright challenging, to watch in comparison to American movies, which are often very formulaic and predictable, sometimes they can be so abstract and hard to make head or tail of that a viewer can often be left feeling puzzled and confused about what they've just seen. To some extent that is how it was for me with this film - it's abstract, I think it tries to be too clever for it's own good and I was left feeling disappointed.

The apartment where the main character and her husband live is all very 'Ikea' and not exactly homely, which contributes to the film feeling kind of cold and detached. As others have mentioned, there is also a lot of graphic internet porn clips and images which some might find offensive but that I just found more of an attempt to spice the film up and make it more 'risque' and shocking than it really is.

I do think the actress who played the main role was pretty good (and kind of strange looking!) but she couldn't save this movie from being a bleak, dull and confusing letdown.

I do not know, I have felt the whole movie lost and when I have found, I have felt, because I think not.

Spoiler:

It is necessary to explain well Why being a good movie, I have not approved it? Because I think a good movie to be a good movie, not only the actors have to be great, as is the case. The rest has to be at the level and from my point of view it is not. I've been throwing half a movie thinking, does it upset a relationship so much that one of the people is blind? Above all, I attribute everything to sex, when I think that if it were that she, for example, has no members, she would understand it, since it should always be the one who commands, but because she is blind? Until finally I think I understood that the whole movie is the book she writes, but is it really everything? I think he has a lot of script mistakes. Nor did he understand, if there had been an attack at any given moment or what happened. Besides, the photograph seems very ugly, it is becoming fashionable to make a film without a photograph or with a very video camera and that is not, from my point of view. Let's not say the camera, as always so many directors, do not know how to use it to tell a story. The costumes and makeup, as it is normal, including the end that is so rare. I do not know I have felt the whole movie lost and when I have found, I have felt, I think not.

Just finished to watch this on TV in Sydney Down Under... Had no idea what it would be about... Almost feel the same now, not quiet I ended up working out what was going on through the twists and turns (out). I'll go along with those who did not get much out of it. Some do have to say a lot about it well good on you, "enjoy it by yourself" but count me out. I'm going to let out a big spoiler...I recognised one of my 60's pop star, the delicious Francoise Hardy, I thought she was singing "Mon ami la rose" but it was something similar "Fou'l camp..." I actually never heard before. Just for that I'll give an extra point (although I have not given anything) Well I'll say no more and hope there is enough to let it published!

Norwegian film about a newly blind adult woman and how she copes with the condition.

She seemingly retreats to the safety of her dull flat listening to boring TV channels and learning the layout of the furniture in her spare time. Or does she.

She is an author with quite a vivid imagination.

She believes that these dreams or imaginations will help her remember her life before blindness.

She writes a story using software on her computer for the blind featuring an array of vivid encounters, characters and situatuons. Most involve sex, pregnancy and her 'boring' husband in a new role.

I wonder what it would be like to be left blind after watching this.